PALI HIGHWAY - All lanes of the Pali Highway are closed because of three landslides near the tunnels.

The first landslide happened around 4 p.m. Monday in the Kailua bound lanes. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

But a few minutes later, a second landslide happened in the Honolulu bound direction. At least two vehicles were damaged, including a truck. Honolulu emergency officials treated a 43-year-old woman who was injured by fallen rocks and mud. She was sitting in the back of the truck. A nine-year-old girl and two-year-old girl were also hospitalized in stable condition.

A third landslide in the Honolulu bound direction of the highway was reported around 7 p.m.

The state Department of Transportation says large pieces of debris and concrete continued to fall on Honolulu-bound lanes of the Pali Highway overnight, days after a series of landslides sent huge boulders tumbling onto the thoroughfare, leaving several people injured.

Stabilization work will continue through the week because the cliff side along the Pali Highway remained unstable. Experts examined the area and noted that a portion of the Old Pali Road that was damaged in Monday’s landslide shifted 18-inches towards the highway. Officials say they need to stabilize the cliff side before clearing the debris.

Honolulu bound traffic will not be open until at least next Monday. Kailua bound traffic should be open Wednesday afternoon.

A deadly winter storm battered Hawaii over the weekend, bringing dangerous surf conditions, heavy snow, raom and damaging winds.
Waves near Waimea Bay on the north shore of Oahu surpassed 60 feet Sunday afternoon. Surf heights hit 45 feet on another part of the island, according to observation reports. A 66-year-old California man died Friday after getting stuck in rough ocean conditions off northwest Maui.

A monstrous 191-mph wind gust was recorded on the peak of Mauna Kea on the Big Island Sunday. Winds soared to 53 mph in Oahu, which knocked down trees and caused power outages throughout the islands. Almost 27,000 customers throughout the state were without power late Sunday. The power went out 3 times at my house.

Several inches of snow fell on Maui. While snow is not unheard of in mountainous parts of the state, mainly on the Big Island volcanoes, officials say the coating at 6,200 feet at a state park on Maui could be the lowest-elevation snowfall ever recorded in the state.

Debris on Sunday closed roads in downtown Honolulu and in the Waikiki area. All state parks were closed Sunday after the County of Hawaii closed beach parks on Saturday night. The Honolulu Zoo closed before noon Sunday because of falling branches. Two African ground hornbills escaped from their enclosureand officials asked the public not to approach the black birds "bigger than a chicken" with red skin under their beaks.

Officials opened two evacuation centers on Oahu Sunday morning and told residents to monitor conditions. The Red Cross opened a shelter in Kauai on Saturday night. Authorities said residents on the islands’ north shores should be prepared for coastal flooding.

The strong low pressure system that swept through the islands over the weekend not only ushered in destructive winds and massive surf, but it also brought some extremely cold temperatures and icy conditions to summits on Hawaii Island and Maui. Actually, it was very cold every where with temperatures dropping into the 50s with the strong north winds. On Sunday, snow blanketed Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area — a popular park for camping, hunting and hiking on the slopes of Haleakala on Maui — for what may be the first time ever.

The summit district of Haleakala National Park is also closed as roads were reported to be covered with snow and ice.
Over on the Big Island, severe weather was also hitting the summit of Mauna Kea. A wind advisory has been posted until noon Monday. Earlier over the weekend, one gust was recorded at 191 mph. Park rangers say the access road to the summit of Mauna Kea will be closed on Monday due to below freezing temperatures, black ice and high humidity. The visitor information station is also closed.

But it was at lower elevations where the storm left the biggest mess. On Oahu alone, the Honolulu Fire Department responded to 132 calls on Sunday from midnight to 9:30 p.m. There were at least 78 blown roofs, 31 toppled trees and downed power lines. And paramedics also rushed to the scenes of at least five weather-related incidents around the island.

Yes, Sunday was the coldest and windiest day I can remember in my 49 years here in Hawaii!

(28 Jan 2019) Pickup Truck Plows into Group of Pedestrians

Pickup Truck Involved in the Crash

Alins Sumang at Hearing

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Police said the crash happened about 6:20 p.m. Monday, when a Ford F-150 truck — speeding and being driven recklessly — suddenly veered from the far left lane over to the right, driving over a concrete traffic island at the intersection of Ala Moana Boulevard and Kamakee Street. That’s when it struck six pedestrians and a traffic signal pole.

The pickup truck that crashed into a group of pedestrians was going 74-76 mph on Ala Moana Boulevard before impact, skidded, then hit the pedestrians and light pole in a traffic island at 51 mph, Honolulu police said today in the preliminary hearing for the truck driver Alins Sumang.

Three people Casimir Pokorney, 26, of Pennsylvania, Reino Ikeda, 47, of Japan, and William Travis Lau, 39, of Honolulu, died at the scene. Three other people who were on the traffic island were injured, as was the driver of another pickup truck that was also hit. Sumang is not yet facing any charges for injuring them.

Sumang, 27, has been in custody since release from the hospital last Wednesday on $1 million bail. May denied a request from Sumang’s lawyer to reduce the bail. At the time of the crash, Sumang was on probation for a 2017 felony terroristic threatening conviction.

(31 Dec 2018) The Willows restaurant closing on New Year's Eve

The Willows sign at the entrance

Outside view of the restaurant

The Willows ponds and gardens

Picture taken at the WillowsLeft to right - Alisa, Jerry, Chris and wife, Odie, and Rick

HONOLULU - The popular and historic The Willows restaurant will be shutting its doors for good on December 31. The sprawling Moliili restaurant in the heart of a Honolulu neighborhood off Hausten street has been a popular place for many years. It first opened on July 4th, 1944 and has provided patrons with open air dining with a garden feel every since. The restaurant is surrounded by ponds and lush gardens.

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation plans to sell the land the restaurant's occupies. It is just one of several parcels the Foundation plans to sell.

"I'm sad! all these great historic restaurants are closing, aw," one faithful customer said.

Most customers come to chow down on the restaurant's famous American and Hawaiian cuisine buffet. Many government and business offices have their office luncheons here. Its also been a haven for some of Hawaii's top musicians, serenading guests with Hawaiian music.

SAD!!!

(13 Dec 2018) Jet Crashes in Ocean near Honolulu

Hawker Hunter Jet

Coast Guard helicopter flies over crash site

HONOLULU - A Hawaii Air National Guard civilian contractor was in serious condition Wednesday after his plane crashed off the coast of Honolulu during a military exercise. The pilot of the Hawker Hunter jet ejected safely from the plane, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam said in a statement. He was initially rescued by a private sailboat and then transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard. Honolulu Emergency Services spokesman Dustin Malama said the 47-year-old appeared to have traumatic injuries and was taken to a hospital.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said a Hawker Hunter jet went down in the ocean around 2:25 p.m. after taking off from Honolulu's airport. The pilot was rescued about 3 miles south of Oahu near Honolulu's Sand Island.

The pilot had been participating in a military exercise called Sentry Aloha, which was temporarily suspended after the crash. The exercise will resume Thursday morning. The Hawaii Air National Guard was hosting the exercise, which involved about 800 personnel and 30 aircraft from nine states.

(28 Nov 2018) Hotel Strike Ends!

Hotel Workers Walk Picket Line

Workers Ratify New Contract

Hotel owner Kyo-ya offered striking hotel workers up to $6.13 per hour in pay and benefit increases over four years in a new contract today that ended a 51-day-old strike.

The contract was ratified by 99.6 percent of more than 1,000 striking workers who voted today at the Ala Moana Hotel. Some 2,700 workers have been on strike since Oct. 8 when negotiations reached an impasse between Local 5 and Kyo-ya, which owns the Marriott-­managed Sheraton Waikiki, Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Westin Moana Surfrider, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani and Sheraton Maui.

In the first year of their new contract, non-tipped employees will get $1.50 per hour wage increase plus 20 cents per hour for medical, 13 cents for pension and 10 cents for a child/elder care fund. Tipped employees would get 75 cents per hour added to their pay.

(11 Nov 2018)
Bruno Mars Hawaii Concerts

Bruno Mars Performs at Aloha Stadium

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - There’s no place like home — especially if you’re ending a world music tour. When Hawaii’s own Bruno Mars announced his 24K Magic World Tour concert series would end at Aloha Stadium over five months ago, Hawaii fans went wild.
Thousands flooded ticket websites online or stood in line for hours at the Aloha Stadium box office to get their hands on tickets.
As anticipation built, Bruno’s homecoming was unmatched by any other big-ticket event at Aloha Stadium in recent years.
Selling out 36,000 seats for three nights of shows, more than 100,000 fans are estimated to have attended the concerts.

Mars' performances were a hit with many who took to social media saying it was “best concert ever.”
After Saturday’s concert, Mars went on Twitter to say “Thank you Hawaii for an incredible night.”

During the three nights of concerts, no major problems were reported. In fact, many fans reached out to Hawaii News Now saying things flowed smoothly from parking to traffic, to entering the gates and everything else (aside from long lines at the bathrooms, of course.)

Local entertainers The Green 808 and Common Kings also took the stage to open for the pop star, which was also a hit with fans.
And when John Cruz’s Island Style played over a slideshow of young Bruno’s life, it was a chicken skin moment that brought tears to fans and seemed to unite everyone in the stadium and beyond.

Following a successful concert series, it’s proof that Hawaii can host big names. In fact, many are already looking forward to concerts recently announced that will feature rapper Cardi B and Snoop Dogg in December.

Sunday’s was the final night of performances for Mars. What’s next for the local boy turned Grammy award winning artist? We’ll have to wait and see.

(30 Sep 2018)
Mililani Football Team Beats Kahuku at Kahuku

Dillon Gabriel Completes Another Pass

Kilifi Malepaeai Runs for 3 Touchdowns

Mililani Defense Stops Kahuku

KAHUKU — One week ago, Dillon Gabriel and the Mililani football team broke the state's all-time career passing yards record.

On Saturday night, the fourth-ranked Trojans executed at a high level to end No. 2 Kahuku's 11 year 51-game winning streak at home.

Visiting Mililani spoiled the Red Raiders' homecoming and handed Kahuku its first loss at home since 2007 with a commanding 38-10 OIA Open Division win before a standing-room only crowd at Carleton E. Weimer Field. Gabriel completed 30 of 47 passes for 309 yards and two scores to help the Trojans improve to 6-2 overall and 4-0 atop the league standings. The senior quarterback did not throw an interception and was never sacked in the contest. "We knew that the person we needed to stop was Dillon. He entered the game in a white jersey and he left in a white jersey," said Kahuku first-year coach Sterling Carvalho. "He's savvy, he gets the ball out, he knows his reads and he executed it well."

But Gabriel didn't do it all on his own against the Red Raiders (4-2 overall, 1-1 OIA Open). Bruising back Kilifi Malepeai ran in three scores in the red zone and Mililani's receivers made a handful of spectacular grabs in traffic to either extend drives or put up points.

(28 Sep 2018)
Hawaii named worst state for teachers in U.S.

Hawaii has been named the worst state for teachers in the country, according to a new study. WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 22 key indicators of teacher-friendliness. Its data set ranges from teachers’ income growth potential to pupil-teacher ratio to teacher safety. Based on those metrics, Hawaii is 2018's worst state for teachers, ranking 51st with a score of 35.18 out of a possible 100. In the two main categories of the report, the Aloha State ranked 51st for opportunity and competition, and 42nd for academic and work environment.

The top 3 "Teacher Friendly" states are #1 New York - #2 Connecticut - #3 Minnesota

Comment - Our teachers and kids deserve better!!

(12 Sep 2018)
Tropical Storm Olivia Hits Maui and Lanai

Tropical Storm Olivia passes Through the Hawaiian Islands

Tropical Storm Olivia causes massive flooding on Maui

Tropical Storm Olivia washes cars away

Maui - Tropical Storm Olivia made a rare double landfall over west Maui and then Lanai on Wednesday, triggering torrential rains and significant flooding in some areas, bringing down trees, closing roads and knocking out power to thousands. Flooding rains were still being seen on Maui into the early evening and were expected over Oahu through Thursday. Forecasters echoed that warning: "Moisture associated with Olivia is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches in some areas, with isolated amounts of 15 inches," the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, in a recent update.

Olivia's center first came onshore near Kahakuloa on Maui's windward coast about 9:10 a.m., forecasters said. Then, about 40 minutes later, the tropical cyclone made a second landfall on the northeast coast of Lanai about six miles north-northeast of Lanai City.

(26 Aug 2018)
WORLD CHAMPS

Hawaii Little League Championship Team

The Hawaii Little League team defeated South Korea today 3-0 to capture the Little League World Series Championship played in South Williamsport, Pa. Starting pitcher Ka‘olu Holt yielded only two singles and struck out eight en route to the complete-game victory.

It is the third world Little League title won by Hawaii.

The local kids won five games over 10 days, including four by shutout in what was a complete team effort. They scored one run in the first on a leadoff home run by Mana Lau Kong. He took the first pitch off losing pitcher Yeong Hyeon Kim deep to right-center to give the West representative a 1-0 lead it wouldn’t relinquish over the Asia-Pacific representative in this 32-team field from around the world.

(24 Aug 2018)
Hurricane Lane Soaks Hawaii With 'Biblical' Rains

Hurricane Lane Path

Wailuku River

Downtown Hilo

(HONOLULU) — A once-powerful hurricane twisted and drifted away from Hawaii, leaving behind heavily saturated ground on the Big Island and many residents on other islands relieved it didn’t wreak more havoc. Firefighters on the Big Island rescued 39 people from floodwaters Friday through early Saturday as the island grappled with about 4 feet of rain from Tropical Storm Lane, formerly Hurricane Lane, dumped on the eastern part of the island over the course of three days.

In Honolulu, where the storm deposited only a few inches of rain, shopkeepers removed plywood from their windows and reopened for business. The National Weather Service canceled all storm warnings for the state.

Preliminary figures from the weather service show that Lane dropped the fourth-highest amount of rain for a hurricane to hit the United States since 1950. Hurricane Harvey, which devastated Texas a year ago, topped the list.

The storm’s outer bands dumped as much as 48 inches on the mostly rural Big Island, measurements showed. The main town of Hilo, population 43,000, was flooded Friday with waist-high water. “It was almost biblical proportions,” said Kai Kahele, a state senator who represents Hilo. The ground was soggy on Saturday, he said, and it was still raining. But Hilo is accustomed to rain, he noted. And the Wailuku River, which raged with runoff, has a name that means “destructive water” in Hawaiian. Native Hawaiians who have lived in the area for hundreds of years know how dangerous the river can be, Kahele said.

The island of Maui also received extensive damage in some areas.

Oahu and Kauai dodged another bullet! Hurricane Lane fell apart and turned to the west just before reaching us. At my house in Mililani, we got a little rain and that was about it.

(20 Jul 2018)
Suspect in officer’s killing dies in police shootout

Police killed Justin Joshua Waiki, left, in a shootout today. The 33-year-old was a suspect in the fatal shooting of a Hawaii island police officer Bronson Kaliloa, right, in Mountain View Tuesday night.

Puna, Big Island of Hawaii - The Hawaii Police Department, acting on information received about fugitive Justin Waiki, stopped and searched an SUV at a checkpoint set up in the South Point area in the Kau district at about 2:45 p.m., when Waiki opened fire wounding a sergeant with 12 years of service. The officer was taken by Fire Rescue to the Hilo Medical Center, where he is in stable condition.

Other officers shot and killed Waiki and wounded a female hiding in the SUV. She was also taken to the Hilo hospital. Her condition is unknown.

Police said three other individuals at the scene who allegedly aided Waiki were arrested on suspicion of hindering prosecution in the first degree. They remain in custody.

(16 Jul 2018)
Lava bomb injures 23 on tour boat off Hawaii island

Kilauea Volcano Lava Bomb

Lava Tour Boat

Big Island of Hawaii - Kilauea Volcano

A “lava bomb” explosion from the Kilauea eruption’s ocean entry point punctured the roof of a tour boat, injuring 23 passengers early this morning, according to the Hawaii County Fire Department. The Lava Ocean Tours Inc. vessel was within the Coast Guard’s 300-meter (984-foot) safety zone at the time of the lava explosion. The boat then turned out to sea when “an explosion occurred near the shoreline hurling hot lava rocks toward the boat and injuring several passengers,” fire department officials said. The boat returned to Wailoa Harbor in Hilo at about 7 a.m. today where medics and firefighters responded.

Three people were taken by ambulance to Hilo Medical Center, while a fourth went to the hospital in a personal vehicle, fire officials said. Two of the three passengers were in stable condition. The third passenger described to be a woman in her 20s is in serious condition with a fractured femur. The fire department said nine passengers drove themselves to the hospital and medics treated 10 people at the scene for minor burns and abrasions. There were 51 people (48 tourists and 3 crew member) aboard the vessel. A second larger explosion occurred in the area after all tour boat were out of the danger zone.

A large volume of lava from fissure 8 in the lower East Rift Zone continues to enter the ocean at Kapoho since the May 3 eruption.

Kilauea erruption started on Thurday, May 3, 2018 and is still going as I post this headline.

Residents on Hawaii's Big Island faced the threats of more earthquakes, lava and dangerous gas after the Kilauea volcano erupted, spewing high levels of sulfur dioxide and molten rocks into neighborhoods.

A magnitude 6.9 quake struck the area Friday, jolting homes already threatened by volcanic eruption. The earthquake, one of dozens to hit the area in 24 hours, was the most powerful on the island since 1975, the US Geological Survey said.

The volcano, which erupted Thursday, already had driven hundreds of people from their homes.

The jolts and tremors have been consistent, said Ikaika Marzo, who lives on the Big Island.

The volcanic activity will continue, Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno said Friday. "It doesn't look like it is slowing down."

At least 11 volcanic vents have opened in Leilani Estates, according to the Hawaii Civil Defense Agency. All residents of Leilani Estates, a community of about 1,700 people (and 700 homes) near the Big Island's eastern edge, and nearby Lanipuna Gardens have been ordered to evacuate.

Leilani Estates
Less than a week ago, Leilani Estates was the picture of serenity on Hawaii’s Big Island, a subdivision in the island’s eastern Puna district filled with wooden homes nestled in tropical plant-filled lots.

The latest eruption of the island’s most active volcano changed everything.

Shortly after Kilauea erupted Thursday, the ground split open on the east side of Leilani Estates, exposing an angry red beneath the lush landscape. From the widening gash, molten rock burbled and splashed, then shot dozens of feet in the air.

The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency called it “active volcanic fountaining.” Some residents insisted it was Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, coming to reclaim her land. Residents were ordered to flee amid threats of fires and “extremely high levels of dangerous” sulfur dioxide gas.

Soon, another such fissure had formed a few streets to the west. Then another, and another. From the vents, hot steam — and noxious gases — rose, before magma broke through and splattered into the air.

As of Monday morning, at least 26 homes and another nine structures had been destroyed, emergency officials said. “That number could go up,” Hawaii County spokeswoman Janet Snyder told the Associated Press. “This is heartbreaking.”

The U.S. Geological Survey said some of the lava was shooting 330 feet into the air — higher than the tip of the Statue of Liberty torch.

“Active venting of lava and hazardous fumes continue in Leilani Estates,” the civil defense agency said Monday, noting that residents of the evacuated subdivision may be allowed to check on their properties during the day.

(15 Apr 2018) Worst Flooding Ever on Kauai

Roads, Houses, and Crops were Distroyed

US Military flies out Stranded Visitors

Many Kauai North Shore Roads are Destroyed

Only Highway to Kauai North Shore was Flooded

More Flooded Roads

More Flooded Roads

Several Houses are Destroyed

Landslides Closed other Roads

Kauai North Shore - The Worst Kauai Flooding Ever

Hawaii Governor David Ige issued an emergency proclamation for the County of Kauai late Sunday due to the damage from "the severe, sudden and extraordinary event of heavy rains and flooding." "For context, the town of Wainiha, Kauai, recorded a staggering 32 inches of rainfall in just 48 hours," CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri said. "That amount of rainfall would climatologically take nearly 18 months to fall in London and over 24 months to fall in Los Angeles."

US military and emergency responders rescued more than 200 people by helicopter today after they were stranded on Kauai’s North Shore following a severe storm that walloped the island this weekend.

Sarah Blane, Kauai County spokeswoman, said by phone that rescuers airlifted 212 people from Wainiha and Haena after they were cut off from the rest of the island by landslides on Kuhio Highway past Hanalei Bay. Rescuers took them to Kilauea Gym in Hanalei.

She said most of those rescued were visitors and had no running water or electricity since the weekend. In addition, county buses shuttled 121 people from the Hanalei Elementary School to Princeville today after crews finished repairs to Hanalei Bridge.

(CNN)Hundreds of people have been evacuated from flood-stricken areas of the Hawaiian island of Kauai after severe rain struck over the weekend, leaving swaths of land underwater.
Rain and flooding Saturday night caused multiple mudslides, as well as power and water outages. One low-lying area was issued with an evacuation notice over fears a dam would burst, and the Kuhio Highway in the city of Hanalei was closed. The Kauai Emergency Management Agency (KEMA) said multiple landslides "continuously engulfed several roadways."

(6 Apr 2018) Senator Daniel Akaka Dies

Former Senator Daniel Akaka Dies at age 93

Honolulu - Senator Daniel Akaka Dies

Akaka, the first Native Hawaiian to serve in the Senate, was a strong advocate for Native Hawaiians and veterans during a political career that started in the House of Representatives in 1976 and ended in the U.S. Senate in 2013.

Known for a modest political style and described as the embodiment of the aloha spirit, Akaka was widely respected in the islands and Washington. But he rarely sought the national spotlight and instead worked largely under the radar, focusing on issues important to Hawaii.

He retired from the Senate with what some considered an unspectacular record. Time magazine even identified him as one of that body’s most ineffective senators. The piece of legislation most tied to his name, the Akaka Bill, never mustered enough votes despite 12 years of trying to shepherd a law that would have granted federal recognition to the Native Hawaiian people.

In the Senate, Akaka built a lasting friendship and alliance with powerful Hawaii U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye, and together they created a formidable delegation. With Inouye’s help, Akaka was able to score lots of federal money for Native Hawaiian education, health and social service programs. Akaka and Inouye also persuaded the United States to formally apologize for its role in the overthrow of the kingdom of Hawaii in 1893. President Bill Clinton issued the apology in 1993 on the 100th anniversary of the overthrow.

While Akaka was a loyal Democratic soldier, there were occasions when Akaka defied his party — like the time he voted in support of oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge despite overwhelming environmental and party opposition. Akaka explained that he based his decision on a promise he made to the Inupiat who live on the refuge and see drilling as an indigenous right.

A defiant Akaka was also among the Senate minority opposed to the war in Iraq from the start, and even before the hostilities started he warned about the lack of planning for reconstruction and a clear exit strategy. “He’s been courageous in speaking out against this misguided war in Iraq from the beginning,” U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., told The Honolulu Advertiser in 2006. “He’s a great personal friend and true man of his word. The U.S. Senate needs Danny’s judgment and his unyielding commitment to making America live up to its highest ideals in the years ahead.”

Born Sept. 11, 1924, in Honolulu, Daniel Kahikina Akaka grew up in Pauoa Valley in a poor and devoutly religious household. His older brother, Abraham, would go on to become the well-known pastor of Kawaiaha‘o Church. Akaka, of Native Hawaiian and Chinese ancestry, attended the Kamehameha School for Boys, graduating in 1942, and then worked as a welder and diesel mechanic with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before entering active duty in the Army just after the war ended.

At the University of Hawaii he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1952 and a master’s in education in 1966. Starting in 1953 he worked as a teacher, vice principal and principal over an 18-year span that saw him take classroom jobs at Kamehameha and several public schools. Among other positions, he was the founding principal at Ewa Beach’s Pohakea Elementary School, which he named. (It means “to give forth light.”)

Akaka married the former Mary Mildred Chong and established a home in Nuuanu. The couple would go on to have five children, 15 grandchildren and even more great-grandchildren. Akaka left his education career behind in 1971 when he was chosen by Gov. John A. Burns to serve as state director of the Office of Economic Opportunity.

Looking back, Akaka said in a 1991 story in MidWeek that he had been happy as an educator but ultimately decided he could serve more people in government. In 1974 Gov. George Ariyoshi tapped Akaka to run for lieutenant governor, but he lost in the Democratic primary. He worked as an aide to Ariyoshi and then joined the race for the 2nd Congressional District, which he won in 1976.

In the House, Akaka landed on the Appropriations Committee, which oversees federal spending, and learned how to work behind the scenes to get federal money for his constituents in Central, Leeward and Windward Oahu and the neighbor islands. While he helped secure funds for projects such as the H-3 freeway, among other things, his record was not widely known when he was appointed to the Senate by Gov. John Waihee in 1990 after U.S. Sen. Spark Matsunaga died. Pat Saiki, a Republican congresswoman, raised doubts about Akaka’s House achievements in their 1990 special election for the remainder of Matsunaga’s term. But Akaka, who enjoyed establishment and union support, finished the campaign strong and beat Saiki with 54 percent of the vote.
In the Senate, Akaka teamed with Inouye on many occasions. His position on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which authorizes defense projects, allowed him to collaborate with Inouye, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee, on military spending for the islands. Together they designated millions of dollars each year for Hawaii defense projects.

Veterans had a friend in Akaka, too. As chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, he introduced reforms to free up stalled medical care and educational benefits. He also encouraged the military to examine the service records of Asian-Americans and Pacific islanders from World War II, which led to Inouye and other members of the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team receiving the Medal of Honor.

During his years on Capitol Hill, Akaka fought for the expansion of Hawaii’s national parks, financial literacy for young people and protection against bioterrorism. In the 1990s Akaka was behind the Hawaiian Home Lands Recovery Act, which pressed the federal government to replace valuable land it acquired when Hawaii was a territory. The senator also made sure the government accurately counted Hawaiians in federal data collection, creating a category for Native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders.

His propensity to avoid the media spotlight led to some notoriety. Congressional Quarterly’s “Politics in America” described him in 1994 as “virtually invisible,” and Time magazine in 2006 ranked him among the five worst senators, describing him as a “master of the minor resolution and the bill that dies in committee.” At the time, many people who knew Akaka thought the Time ranking was subjective and unfair, mistaking his humility and focus on Hawaii for weakness.

Akaka, soft-spoken, polite and always ready to greet both friends and acquaintances with a grandfatherly hug, chose to concentrate on issues important to Hawaii and on a handful of national topics he took interest in. He also prided himself on getting things done through the power of personal relationships and friendships rather than through rhetoric or legislative wheeling and dealing.

In 2000 Akaka introduced the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, which would become known as the Akaka Bill. He was worried about a legal threat to Hawaiian-only programs, and the legislation would have recognized Native Hawaiians as an indigenous people with the right to form their own government. But the bill, over a dozen years, repeatedly stalled, mainly in the Senate, where it was blocked by conservative Republicans who opposed it as race-based discrimination. Members of the Hawaii delegation pledged to take up the cause after Akaka’s retirement but allowed the Obama administration to explore federal recognition through the Department of the Interior.

Beating back a solid challenge from former Congressman Ed Case in 2006, Akaka was re-elected at the age of 82 despite being slowed by having a hip and both knees replaced.

When he retired at age 88 in 2012, Akaka bid farewell in a speech described as “a stoic and soulful aloha and mahalo” to his Senate colleagues. “I want to say mahalo nui loa,” he said in conclusion on the Senate floor.

Akaka was admired by colleagues on both sides of the aisle. “He’s a lovable person, and most of us are not that lovable,” U.S. Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., told the Advertiser in 2003. “He was a quiet man,” said U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., in 2012. “He was a powerful force, one of the most decent people you’d ever want to meet here.

(5 Apr 2018) Law passed to legalize medical aid in dying

Gov. David Ige signs House Bill 2739making Hawaii the seventh jurisdiction to offer an end-of-life choice. The law was modeled after Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act. To the right of Gov. Ige is lobbyist John Radcliffe, a cancer patient who first filed the right-to-die suit.

The law caps a decades-long debate to legalize medical aid in dying here.

Under the law, mentally competent adult residents, who have been given six months or less to live, will be able to request lethal prescriptions to be self-administered.

“It is time for terminally ill, mentally competent Hawaii residents who are suffering to make their own end-of-life choices with dignity, grace and peace,” Ige said.

“What this is about is … it’s a choice that an individual can make so that they are able to think about how they want to live the rest of their life,” said House Majority Floor Leader Della Au Belatti, who helped author the bill. “It is a bill not simply about the choice to die.”

Hawaii becomes the seventh jurisdiction to legalize medical aid in dying, joining California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont and Washington state and the District of Columbia.

In initial public hearings on the measure, lawmakers heard from supporters and opponents of the controversial practice.

Many supporters asserted that individuals of sound mind should have the option to end their lives peacefully and with dignity rather than suffer from crippling illnesses. Opponents argued that life should be respected and said pain relief is already available through hospice and palliative care.

A truck hit a barrier at the Middle Street overpass this afternoon, sending large debris to the roadway and closing lanes in both directions of the H-1 Freeway and the Moanalua Freeway eastbound.

City officials said Moanalua Freeway eastbound is shut and the freeway is closed at Middle Street off-ramp. “If you must get in to town take the airport viaduct via Nimitz Highway,” they said.

Traffic on surrounding surface roads was heavily congested in the aftermath of the accident at about 1:40 p.m. Mayor Kirk Caldwell explained that the truck hit the concrete barrier at the overpass sending concrete and metal onto the road way and onto several cars that needed to be towed. The eastbound Moanalua Freeway was expected to stay close until after 4 p.m.

Caldwell recommended motorists coming into town get off at the airport viaduct and come into town on Nimitz Highway, which is backed up, with extra police officers controlling traffic. “Celebrate an early Easter,” said Caldwell, “go to Zippy’s or something, have some chili, go to a movie, relax, work hard at your office so you can enjoy the next three days and go home later once traffic has been minimized.”

Photos on social media showed heavy debris on the road and a crane being used to put the debris on a flatbed trailer.

The Thursday "rush hour" traffic nightmare didn't clear up until after 8PM.

(13 Feb 2018) OIA-ILH Merger

ILH and OIA create football merger

An Oahu high school football dream is becoming reality. Sources close to the situation confirmed that the OIA and ILH have agreed to play a full slate of interleague regular season matchups in 2018.

The two-year pilot program has been agreed to by both the public and private school leagues.

“For this to happen, this is a great day for football,” Cover2: Hawaii High School Football Weekly analyst Rich Miano said “This from a safety standpoint, a competitive standpoint, a revenue standpoint. The gods are smiling down on football in general. We’ve been craving for this. Fans have been craving for it. I think it just makes it more competitive because it makes it more safe. It makes it more revenue producing which all of these schools need this revenue to play this game of football. I just think it’s a win-win for everybody.”

The format will have teams from the Open Division, Division I, and Division II between each league play each other once during the regular season before the respective league playoffs. All games will count toward overall records, but league games will be the only deciding seeding for postseason play.

In regards to the state tournament, births will remain the same in the ILH with the league receiving one spot in each division. The OIA will get 3 bids into the Open Division, with the remaining berths dependent upon KIF classification. Whichever division the KIF decides to declare its champion for, Division I or II, will feature 2 OIA teams. The other division that doesn’t have a KIF team will feature a format of one bid per league.

(13 Jan 2018) Panic in Paradise

The above message popped up on everybody's cell phone at exactly 8:07am throwing the entire state of Hawaii into panic mode.

I was sitting outside in the patio eating my breakfast when message appeared.
I thought I better go inside to tell my wife that we were all going to die in a matter of minutes.
There were no Emergency Sirens and just regular programming on the TV.
Then there was banner going across the TV saying a missile was heading for Hawaii and would hit in minutes.
Then a man's voice come on and said to seek shelter immediately, if at home - stay indoors away from windows,
if in your car, to pull over and stay there, if in a hotel or highraise, go to lobby or basement now.

I told my wife that I didn't think the North Koreans were smart enough to hit Hawaii with a missile - I went for a second cup of coffee.

Did you know that if a missile were launched by North Korea toward Hawaii, it would only take about 20 minutes before it hit!

Well, we waited and waited - nobody come on TV or on our cell phones to tell us what was going on.
At 8:30, we were still alive so I decided to go outside and play with the puppy.

Finally, about 8:45 a message pops up on my cell phone saying it was a FASLE ALARM - there was no missile - somebody hit the wrong button.

GREAT!! Life goes on.

Later, we found out about the panic this "38 minute" mistake caused the citizens of Hawaii and its visitors:
----- It was mass chaos - people were getting out of cars and running and looking at the sky.
----- People were calling their loved ones to say their final good-byes.
----- Thousands of people crowded into underground parking lots.
----- People out on the street were putting their kids in manholes.
----- In Waikiki and downtown, people were running in all directions looking for a place to hide.

This event was especially hard on the children. For old people like me, it didn't matter that much!

We found out that our city and state government doesn't have a clue on how to handle an emergency like this.

My advice - get those anti-missile systems tested and working before that idiot in North Korea really does send ballistic missiles to Hawaii.

The Peach Bowl - Atlanta, Georgia - UCF put the final touches on its perfect 13-0 season Monday, ringing in the new year with a 34-27 Peach Bowl victory over Auburn.

Mililani High School grad Quarterback McKenzie Milton was outstanding passing for 242 yards and rushing for 116 more en route to scoring three touchdowns on the day.

Chequan Burkett made the big play of the game when he picked off Stidham and returned it 45 yards to the house to give Central Florida a two-score lead with 5:56 remaining in regulation.

Scott Frost coached UCF in its Peach Bowl win against Auburn. It was Frost's last game with the Knights, as he now leaves to take over permanently as the head coach at Nebraska, his alma mater.

The University of Central Florida have declared themselves the National Champion. They were the only undefeated team in the nation plus they beat Auburn who just happened to beat both Alabama and Georgia who will be playing for the National Championship on Monday.

In 2014, offensive player of the year McKenzie Milton led Mililani to the State Championship beating Punahou in a shoot-out 53-45.
Milton threw for 436 yards and 7 touchdowns. Trojan head coach Rod York and company won their first state football championship in school history.

(30 Nov 2017) Jim Nabors Dies

Jim Nabors - Gomer Pyle

The Andy Griffith Show - Gollll-ly

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

Jim Nabors Variety Hour

In 3 Movies with Burt Reynolds

Gets Star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame

Singing 'Back Home Again in Indiana' at the Indianapolis 500

Jim Nabors Recorded 28 Albums

Recent picture of Jim Nabors at his Diamond Head home

HONOLULU -- Jim Nabors, the shy Alabaman whose down-home comedy made him a TV star as Gomer Pyle and whose surprisingly operatic voice kept him a favorite in Las Vegas and other showplaces, died Thursday. He was 87. Nabors, who underwent a liver transplant in 1994 after contracting hepatitis B, died peacefully at his home in Hawaii after his health had declined for the past year, said his husband, Stan Cadwallader, who was by his side. Cadwallader told CBS News that Nabors' underwent a series of tests on Wednesday, but the decision was made to bring him home from the hospital. "Everybody knows he was a wonderful man. And that's all we can say about him. He's going to be dearly missed," Cadwallader said.

The coroner has not yet released Nabors' cause of death, but Cadwallader said it appears to be from natural causes. The couple married in early 2013 in Washington state, where gay marriage had recently been made legal. Nabors' friends had known for years that he was gay, but he had never said anything to the media. "It's pretty obvious that we had no rights as a couple, yet when you've been together 38 years, I think something's got to happen there, you've got to solidify something," Nabors told Hawaii News Now at the time. "And at my age, it's probably the best thing to do."

Nabors became an instant success when he joined "The Andy Griffith Show" in the early 1960s. The character of Gomer Pyle, the unworldly, lovable gas pumper who would exclaim "Gollllll-ly!" proved so popular that in 1964 CBS starred him in "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C."

In the spinoff, which lasted five seasons, Gomer left his hometown of Mayberry to become a Marine recruit. His innocence confounded his sergeant, the irascible Frank Sutton.

Audiences saw another side of Nabors in appearances in TV variety programs -- his booming baritone. The contrast between his homespun humor
For two seasons beginning in 1969, CBS presented "The Jim Nabors Hour" on which he joshed with guest stars, did sketches with Sutton and fellow "Gomer" veteran Ronnie Schell, and sang country and opera.

Offstage, Nabors retained some of the awed innocence of Gomer. At the height of his fame in 1969, he admitted, "For the first four years of the series, I didn't trust my success. Every weekend and on every vacation, I would take off to play nightclubs and concerts, figuring the whole thing would blow over some day. "You know somethin'? I still find it difficult to believe this kind of acceptance. I still don't trust it." After the end of his variety show, Nabors continued earning high salaries in Las Vegas showrooms and in concert theaters across the country. He recorded more than two dozen albums and sang with the Dallas and St. Louis symphony orchestras.

During the 1970s he moved to Hawaii, buying a 500-acre macadamia ranch. He still did occasional TV work, and in the late 1970s, he appeared 10 months annually at Hilton hotels in Hawaii. The pace gave him an ulcer. "I was completely burned out," he later recalled. "I'd had it with the bright lights."

In the early 1980s, his longtime friendship with Burt Reynolds led to roles in "Stroker Ace," ''Cannonball II" and "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas."

Among his regular gigs was singing "Back Home Again in Indiana" at the Indianapolis 500 each year, which he first did in 1972. The first time, he wrote the lyrics on his hand so he wouldn't forget. "I've never thought of (the audience reaction) as relating to me," Nabors said. "It's always relating to the song and to the race. It is applauding for the tradition of the race and the excitement." Illness forced him to cancel his appearance in 2007, the first one he had missed in more than 20 years. He was back performing at Indy in 2008, saying, "It's always the main part of my year. It just thrills you to your bones."

The house on 1819 Houghtailing Street is a bit of a mystery. City records say it's a two-family detached dwelling, but it really looks like a three-story apartment building. City real property documents show it has a whopping 29-bedrooms and 17- bathrooms.

Neighbors wonder how the city approved the structure. The Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting said if the project meets code, it can't reject the building permit.

Real Property records show Chinese owners that neighbors tell us are construction contractors. They are the same owners who are building what looks like a six-story home on Kalihi Street.
Neighbors said crews work on the home seven days a week, it has 20-bedrooms and 16-bathrooms.

While those are two of the more glaring examples, across town, longtime residents are complaining to their councilman for help. Monster homes are going up all over the island.

The community doesn't want to lose the feel of Kaimuki and fears these large homes aren't just doubling, but quadrupling the density. And many are questioning why owners are allowed to max out their lots.

Many residents are questioning why the city allows the large structures when it just passed stricter laws to deal with storm drain runoff. People fear the city is helping to create another enforcement nightmare.

(18 Nov 2017) Killer escapes from Hawaii psychiatric hospital

Randall Saito

Walks away from the State Hospital

Takes a cab to the airport

Map shows how Randall Saito made it to California

Police in Stockton caputure Saito

Randall Saito, the 59-year-old man left the hospital Sunday, took a taxi to a chartered plane bound for the island of Maui and then boarded another plane to San Jose, California, police said. He was captured Wednesday morning in the city of Stockton after authorities got a tip from a taxi driver.

Saito was committed to the hospital outside Honolulu in 1981 after he was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the shooting and stabbing death of a woman, whose body was found in her car at a mall. Saito was permitted to roam the hospital grounds with an escort, but he did not have permission to leave the hospital campus without supervision.

IIt took the hospital at least eight hours to notify law enforcement that Saito was missing. On Wednesday, Dr. Virginia Pressler, director of the Hawaii Department of Health, said an internal inquiry indicated that workers inadvertently or intentionally neglected to supervise Saito or notify their supervisors. The apparent failures were spread through several shifts of works, she said. Seven hospital employees have been placed on unpaid leave as the investigation continues.

There has been 17 escapes over the past eight years at a Hawaii psychiatric hospital.

(10 Nov 2017) Island Air to shut down after 37 years

Honolulu - Island Air, the state’s second-largest airline, said today its last day of service will be Friday after having exhausted all options to remain flying.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must inform all of you that tomorrow Friday the 10th of November will be the last day for Island Air to be in service,” CEO David Uchiyama said in an email today to employees. “We have exhausted all options that would allow us to continue and we have not been able to solidify any of those option(s) within the time frame needed. “We will need to work through this day with our heads held high knowing that we did all that we could do to provide an affordable alternative to interisland travel for our islands.”

Island Air, which has about 400 employees, filed for bankruptcy protection on Oct. 16 after its aircraft lessor, Ireland-based Elix Assets 8 Ltd., attempted to repossess the company’s three remaining Q400 aircraft for nonpayment.

The airline, which flew interisland routes for 37 years, had lost money every quarter for the past 4-1/2 years.

Island Air said all passengers must make alternative arrangements for interisland transportation. Hawaiian Airlines said it will honor Island Air tickets for the next week on a standby basis.

According to the company’s website, Island Air started off as Princeville Airways in 1980 flying between Honolulu and Kauai’s Princeville Airport with just two Twin Otter aircraft. By 1987, it had eight planes and was flying to the other islands. That year, Aloha Airlines’ parent company purchased Princeville Airways and renamed it Aloha Island Air. By 1995, the airline was known simply as Island Air and began flying the larger, 37-seat Dash 8 plane. In 2013, Oracle founder Larry Ellison’s company took over Island Air. The company sold a controlling interest in the airline to a group of local investors last year.

List of Defunct Hawaii airlines:
Aloha Airlines was an airline that served Hawaii from 1946 (when it was known as Trans-Pacific Airlines) until 2008.
Discovery Airways was a short-lived airline that operated inter-island flights in 1990 using BAe 146 aircraft.
FlyHawaii Airlines was an airline that never commenced operations.
go! was an airline that operated flights to the major airports in Hawaii using Bombardier CRJ200 jet aircraft operated by Mesa Airlines. The airline ceased operations in Hawaii on April 1, 2014.
Mahalo Air operated inter-island flights between 1993 and 1997, initially using Fokker F27 aircraft operated by Empire Airlines and later operating its own ATR 42 aircraft.
Mid Pacific Air operated inter-island flights between 1981 and 1988 using NAMC YS-11 and Fokker F28 aircraft.
Pacific Wings was a commuter airline based in Kahului, Maui. It used Cessna Grand Caravans on all of its routes.

(3-4 Nov 2017) President Trump Visits Hawaii

President and Melania Trump arrive in Honolulu

President Trump Greets some Soldiers

Trump Haters were out in Force

President and Melania at Hotel in Waikiki

President and Melania on the USS Arizona

President and Melania Leave Hawaii

HONOLULU OAHU - President Trump stopped over in Honolulu for 2 days on his way to Asia.
(The above pictures pretty much describe his visit in Hawaii)

Honolulu, Hawaii
The main allegations against retired Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine, a deputy prosecutor are
Fraud, conspiracy, ID theft. Here are the details:

>> Katherine Kealoha, while a private attorney and trustee for two minor children, in 2004 established trust funds totaling more than $167,000 for the two children, then 10 and 12, and from May 2004 to February 2012 used almost all the money in those accounts to pay personal expenses of her and her husband. The expenses included mortgage payments, home refinancing costs and loan payments. The couple misappropriated nearly $150,000 from the two accounts. Katherine Kealoha created an alias, Alison Lee Wong, to carry out the scheme.

>> Katherine Kealoha used $25,000 that her uncle, Gerard Puana, gave to her in 2007 to invest in an investment hui for personal expenses instead. To carry out the ruse, Kealoha would periodically withdraw $600 in an account holding Puana’s money and give it to him as a “return” on his investment. Those payments prompted Puana to give Kealoha $70,000 in additional funds. Instead of investing that, the Kealohas used more than $45,000 to pay personal expenses. Puana got back $23,739 as “investment returns.”

>> As power of attorney for her grandmother, Katherine Kealoha helped her get a reverse mortgage on the the home of her elderly grandmother, Florence Puana, in October 2009 as part of a series of transactions meant to purchase a condo for the elderly woman’s son. Through the reverse mortgage, the grandmother borrowed about $513,000 to buy the condo, pay expenses and consolidate the Kealohas debts so they could purchase the condo from the grandmother and then sell it to her son. But instead of using some of that money to make payments on the woman’s reverse mortgage, Katherine Kealoha used it to pay more than $92,000 in personal expenses for her and her husband. The expenses included $10,663 in car payments for a Mercedes Benz and Maserati, $2,161 for Elton John concert tickets, $7,800 to install air conditioning at their home, $3,000 in charity donations, $3,596 in travel costs and $956 at Disneyland in California.

>> The Kealohas while acting “under the color of law” and in a conspiracy with the other suspects deprived Honolulu residents of their constitutional rights to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, and destroyed and concealed records to obstruct an an official proceeding. They also altered and falsified records and tangible objects with the intent to impede a federal investigation.

>> The Kealohas improperly used their authority as public officials to prevent the discovery of their precarious financial condition and prior malfeasance involving the trust accounts and the dealings with her grandmother.

>> The Kealohas and the other conspirators would target members of the community, including Gerard and Florence Puana, who threatened the power and financial condition of the Kealohas. They also fabricated evidence against Puana, who had been accused of stealing the Kealohas’ mailbox, and conspired to present false testimony and evidence against him.

>> They attempted to obstruct the subsequent FBI investigation and federal grand jury probe into the Puana case.

>> The Kealohas devised schemes to defraud American Savings Bank, Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union and Hawaii Central Federal Credit Union to obtain funds through false and fraudulent representations, including in 2013 submitting a forged police report claiming they were victims of identity theft in an attempt to explain derogatory information on their credit reports.

>> Katherine Kealoha was charged with aggravated identity theft for using another person’s name in 2013, 2014 and 2016 as part of a federal bank fraud violation.

They both have pleaded NOT GUILTY.

(19 Sep 2017) Kaiser High School Shuts Down Football for the Season

An altercation at the Kaiser football field requiring police attention led to the school’s decision to cancel the rest of the Cougars’ season.
According to a source high up in the Kaiser administration, an argument between parents and head coach Arnold Martinez began after practice Monday.
“The parents almost punched him and it got really ugly,” the source said. “The parents were irate and there was some pushing and shoving.”
A security guard stepped in to keep the peace and, apparently, some players also got into the mix, according to the source.

Kaiser principal Justin Mew sent out a letter to Kaiser parents and players today announcing that the varsity and JV season — in which the varsity team has struggled to field a team and has ended up forfeiting most of its games — was over.

The source said the school has asked for a police presence of six to eight officers for the rest of the week, which concludes with the annual homecoming assembly Friday. At 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, four police cars were at the entrance to the field.

The incident on Monday led to an emergency meeting of faculty and staff later in the day, when Mew made it known to them that the football season would be canceled due to safety concerns. Martinez then held a meeting Tuesday with players to let them know of the development.

Mew’s letter, addressed to the Kaiser Cougar Ohana and obtained by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, reads as follows:
“Due to a series of prevailing events and extreme concerns for student and staff safety, the decision has been made, in consultation with Complex Area Superintendent Donna Lum Kagawa, to cancel both the Junior Varsity (JV) and Varsity football seasons effective immediately.
“The well-being of our school community is a top priority and we are committed to keeping our students and staff safe. An incident occurred on campus yesterday evening, Sept. 18, which required police involvement. This unacceptable behavior is one of a series of escalating events that has led us to this difficult decision.

While we recognize that football is traditionally a highlight of Homecoming Week, we assure you that Kaiser’s Homecoming festivities will continue.
We would like to thank the players on the JV and Varsity football teams for their hard work and perseverance. It is our hope that the Kaiser community will come together in a positive manner to support the school.”

The Cougars have managed to play only one of their five games this season — a 71-0 loss to Campbell — due to low player turnout and safety concerns.
Kaiser was scheduled to play Moanalua on Friday in its homecoming game. The source said about five to seven players were asked to move up from the JV to the varsity for that game in order for the varsity to have enough manpower.

A blessing for the brand-new artificial turf field, which was scheduled for this week, has been postponed.

(17 Aug 2017) 5 crewmen missing after Army chopper crashes near Oahu

Oahu, Hawaii - An Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down during a training exercise about 2 miles off the Hawaiian island of Oahu, according to the US Coast Guard.

Responders are searching for five missing crewmen.

The aircraft went down Tuesday night off the largely uninhabited Kaena Point on the west side of the island.

Three helicopters, a Coast Guard cutter and response boat and the Honolulu Fire Department were among those responding.
The Coast Guard spotted a debris field near Kaena Point at 11:28 p.m. (5:28 a.m. ET), roughly 80 minutes after personnel at Wheeler Army Airfield in central Oahu lost communications with the helicopter. "As we pick up debris, we'll bring that back here and we'll assemble that, but investigators will eventually delve into what may or may not have caused this," said Lt. Col. Curt Kellogg, a spokesman for the 25th Infantry Division, in a news conference Wednesday.

Weather in the area is partly cloudy with winds of 15 to 25 mph and 2-foot seas.

The UH-60 is an Army utility helicopter used in air assaults, air cavalry and as a medical evacuation unit.

Two Black Hawk air crews were training between Kaena Point and Dillingham Airfield, a few miles east, when communications were lost, the Coast Guard said.

(31 Jul 2017) Ward Warehouse Closes

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - For months, Hawaii store owners and residents have prepared for the end of Ward Warehouse — and now it has finally happened. Monday, July 31 was the last day for this popular shopping and entertainment center.

Ward Warehouse to be demolished in August 2017 to make way for luxury condos.

Popular places like Old Spaghetti Factory and Kincaid’s Honolulu shut their doors weeks ago, but many businesses stayed open until the center's last hours.

"Over 30-percent of them are moving within Ward Village...and then another about one-third of them were really ready to put their businesses to bed,...and then the other third, we really worked with them to find them new locations,” said Todd Apo, vice president for community development for Howard Hughes.

Ward Warehouse has been around since 1975. That's 42 years of customers building special family memories at the shopping center.

Community members, residents and tourists are sad to see it go, but now they have an opportunity to celebrate what Ward Warehouse has given and represented in the community — aloha.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Four bodies were recovered Saturday from the wreckage of a single-engine plane crash on a remote mountainside above Kunia. The Beech 19A fixed wing single-engine aircraft, with tail number N6142N, went missing on Friday evening, though the search didn't begin until 10 a.m. Saturday. The craft was found about 3:20 p.m. in an area inaccessible by vehicles.

Friends and family identified the four in the plane as Gerrit Evensen, his girlfriend Heather Riley, Alexis Aaron, and pilot Dean Hutton.

Authorities said the wreckage was found above the Kunia Loa ridge farmlands.

Just before 5:45 p.m. Saturday, the Honolulu Fire Department's Air One helicopter recovered the body of the first victim. All four bodies have since been transferred off the site. Honolulu Fire Department Battalion Chief Craig Uchimura said three of the victims were found inside the downed plane, while one was found outside. "The wreckage was in an area that was very remote and inaccessible by vehicle," Uchimura said. "Our rescue personnel had to repel off our Air One helicopter to be inserted on the mountainside. It's pretty treacherous up there."

(14 Jul 2017) Marco Polo Condo Fire

View from Waikiki accross Ala Wai Canal

View of Fire before it got really bad

Fire spreads rapidly to higher floors

More Apartments catch on fire

Flames are clearly visible

Outside view of burned apartments

Hundreds of people watching the fire

Fire out - Inside view of burned apartments

MOILIILI, HONOLULU OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) -
A massive, multi-apartment blaze at the Marco Polo condominium has left three people dead (in Apartment 2613 and 2615) and at least 16 injured.

Some 100 firefighters from 30 battalions battled the difficult fire, which raged for five hours before being declared "under control" about 7 p.m.

Officials said the fire started on the 26th floor (Apartment 2602) and spread to at least the 28th floor.

With the elevators down, firefighters were using human chains to get equipment to crews on high floors.

Resident Ron Chiaritino said he lives in a unit about 30 feet from where the blaze was centered and could see black smoke billowing from affected apartments. "I heard three women screaming, screaming," he said, through tears. "And then i didn't hear them."
When the blaze was still going, a number of people were trapped in their units, told to stay put because they couldn't be evacuated safely. A special team of firefighters was going door to door to check for tenants who couldn't evacuate.

"As far as how the conditions are, we had to evacuate our firefighters about two or three times," Honolulu Fire Department Manuel P. Neves told reporters. "It's very difficult."

Fire Capt. David Jenkins said at least 12 people were treated at the scene, and four were taken to the hospital. Two were in serious condition.

Meanwhile, evacuees of the 36-story highrise are congregating at Ala Wai Park and Iolani School, where an American Red Cross shelter is set to open.
"Our hearts go out to the families. We hope everyone else is safe," said Mayor Kirk Caldwell, who went to the scene to speak to residents.

Residents of the building described a chaotic scene after the blaze started about 2:30 p.m.

Flames spread quickly and debris was raining down on the ground and on lower floor balconies, causing secondary fires.

(26 Jun 2017) King Tides Hit Hawaii

Highest in Recorded History

Ala Moana Park in Waikiki

Hotel Beach Front in Waikiki

Fort Derussey Beach in Waikiki

Kapiolani Park in Waikiki

Road to Blow Hole

South Shore Highway

Mapunapuna Business Area

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - King tides are rolling in and they're confirmed as highest in recorded history at 3.2 feet. Several coastal areas across the state were inundated with water Saturday as this month's round of king tides reach record levels. Officials and businesses are bracing for their potential impact. Coastal flooding associated with king tides will become a possibility each day going into the upcoming weekend, especially along south-facing shores due to elevated surf. The best chance for coastal flooding impacts will be through the afternoon periods around the times of the peak daily tides.

At Ala Moana Regional Park, waves washed all the way to the beach wall in some spots. The tide alone was enough to draw people who just wanted to take a look. "Never seen this before," said Kakaako resident Elmer Nakao. "I used to come a lot here when I was a kid, and I actually swim a lot here, and I thought it would be interesting just to come and see it." A group of beachgoers had staked out a spot on the sand, and build a small wall to try to keep the tide out. The wall was no match for the incoming waves when the tide peaked just before 5 p.m. "Well, the waves came in and pretty much destroyed the wall that I built," said Dorian Tanginoa. "I was trying my hardest, but I guess I failed."

The ocean also made its way into the parking lot and roadway behind La Mariana Restaurant on Sand Island, where a homemade sign warned of the incoming tide. And once again, Mapunapuna was inundated, disrupting business at places like the U-Haul lot on Kilihau Street. "Our trucks going through the water, it's not good for the brakes," said U-Haul customer service representative David Leonard. "It's ocean water. It's salt water."

(17 Jun 2017) Hokulea's triumphant homecoming

Homecoming Ceremony

Homecoming Crowds

Honolulu – Magic Island - Nainoa Thompson leads the crew off the canoe and onto Magic Island for the formal homecoming ceremony, which is scheduled to last for about two hours and include welcoming remarks from Gov. David Ige and Mayor Kirk Caldwell and a short speech by Thompson. In a passionate, emotional speech, Polynesian Voyaging Society president and Master Navigator Nainoa Thompson remembered the people who were instrumental in the history of the Hokule’a while stressing the importance of passing down the lessons and skills learned from the voyaging canoe to the next generations.

To the thrill of thousands on Magic Island, the Hawaii voyaging canoe enters Ala Wai Boat Harbor as it formally ends it three-year, worldwide “Malama Honua” (Care for Island Earth) voyage. The arrival is the culmination of a 40,000 nautical miles journey that spanned three oceans, using traditional wayfinding navigation to visit 19 countries.

(27 Apr 2017) Hawaii Teachers get a 13.6% Raise

Hawaii teachers overwhelmingly ratify new contract with raises

Honolulu - Hawaii public school teachers overwhelmingly voted in favor today of a four-year labor contract that will boost their pay by 13.6 percent over the next four years.

Ninety-eight percent of teachers who cast a ballot today voted to ratify the deal, the 13,500-member Hawaii State Teachers Association announced. Nearly 8,000 HSTA members voted, according to the union.

(22 Apr 2017) Pier 38 Evacuated after Ammonia Leak

Hawaiian Ice

Hawaiian Ice Company on Pier 38

Honolulu - A massive ammonia leak at the Hawaiian Ice Co. at Pier 38 this evening resulted in the evacuation of more than 100 people from neighboring businesses and vessels. According to Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. David Jenkins, the leak originated from a 6,500-pound container. Witnesses said the leak produced a large noxious cloud that drifted across the pier. HFD responded to the 5:07 p.m. emergency call with 12 companies staffed with about 40 personnel.

The department’s hazardous materials team was able to enter the business and shut off the supply of ammonia. As of 7:15 p.m., HazMat personnel were continuing to take readings of ammonia levels to determine when the building could be re-opened for further ventilation. Fifteen people were evaluated by Emergency Medical Services personnel. Of those, nine received treatment on site for irritated eyes, breathing difficulties and other symptoms and refused transport to a hospital. One person was transported to an area hospital for further treatment. Ana Settle, 42, a cashier at Nico’s Pier 38, was near the door of the fish market when a customer came in gagging from exposure to the ammonia. She called 911 then helped as the business evacuated staff and customers. “You could feel it in your lungs,” Settle said. “I felt dizzy and I couldn’t breathe. We got out of there as fast as we could.”

(21 Apr 2017) 2017 Merrie Monarch Festival

Ka La ‘Onohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e

HILO, BIG ISLAND - Ka La ‘Onohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e under the direction of kumu Tracie and Keawe Lopes took the overall winner title of the 54th Merrie Monarch Festival on Saturday night.

With 1,168 points, the Kaneohe halau had the highest combined score of all 23 halau that competed on the hallowed stage of the Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium in group competitions on Friday and Saturday.

The bar was set high this year, with creative choreography, athleticism and precision exhibited by the dancers. All halau this year from the Hawaiian isles of Kauai, Maui, Oahu and Hawaii island, and they brought strong performances to the stage, from beginning to end.

(4 Apr 2017) Peter Kema Sr. Pleas Guilty to Killing Son Peter Boy

Peter Boy Kema

Peter Kema Sr. and Wife Jaylin

HILO, BIG ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) - In a groundbreaking development to one of Hawaii's most well-known murder cases, Peter Kema, Sr. pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Wednesday for the 1997 death of his 6-year-old son, "Peter Boy."

Sources tell Hawaii News Now that Kema and his attorney spent weeks negotiating a deal that would allow him to avoid a murder trial. According to the terms of his plea arrangement, Kema will be spared the possibility of spending life in prison, instead serving a 20-year sentence for manslaughter and a five-year sentence for hindering prosecution. He'll be allowed to serve the terms concurrently as long as he shows authorities where his son's remains are. If the remains can't be recovered, he'll have to pass a polygraph test to prove he's being honest.

Last April, Kema and his wife, Jaylin, were indicted for Peter Boy's death and subsequently pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder charges. But in December, a big breakthrough: Jaylin Kema changed her plea to manslaughter, agreeing to testify in court against her husband. "I failed to protect my son," she said in Hilo courtroom, in response to a judge's question about why she believes she was guilty.

(15 Mar 2017) Hawaii files Trump travel ban injunction motion

Hawaii State Attorney General Douglas Chin

Federal District Judge Derrick Watson

Hawaii State Attorney General Douglas Chin has asked Federal District Judge Derrick Watson to issue an injunction blocking President Donald Trump’s travel ban.

U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson halted key portions of Trump’s executive order before it went into effect last week. He’s instructing Hawaii to file its preliminary injunction motion this morning. The government will have until Friday to oppose the motion.

A Department of Justice spokeswoman declined to comment on whether the government still plans to appeal the Hawaii ruling.
The government is appealing a ruling from a federal judge in Maryland that also blocked the ban from taking effect.

(20 Feb 2017) Dave Shoji Announces His Retirement and His Replacement

Coach Dave Shoji Announces His Retirement

Robyn Ah Mow-Santos Will Replace Shoji as Coach

University of Hawaii - In a shocking announcement Monday afternoon, longtime University of Hawaii women’s volleyball head coach Dave Shoji revealed that he is battling prostate cancer and will take some time away from the program as he undergoes treatment.
At 70 years of age, Shoji, a 14-time conference coach of the year who has led the Rainbow Wahine program to 4 national championships, made the announcement via press release at 4 p.m. “I was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few weeks ago but I did not want to announce it and become a distraction to the team,” he said. “I will be undergoing treatment that will take me away from my everyday coaching duties for the next several weeks. With the help of my team of doctors, my wife Mary, and the support of our family, I am trusting in God to get through this and see what my future holds.”

Ah Mow-Santos to replace Shoji as Wahine volleyball coach. Saying “she knows it is going to be a lot of work, but she is excited,” athletic director David Matlin announced Robyn Ah Mow-Santos as the successor to Dave Shoji as head coach of the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine volleyball team today. Ah Mow-Santos, who was introduced at a campus press conference, will be the third coach overall and first female to head the program in the 44-year history of women’s volleyball at the school.

Ah Mow-Santos was one of three finalists who interviewed for the position, Matlin said. She will receive a three-year contract.
UH did not disclose her salary, but the range, as set by Board of Regents policy, is $76,440-$143,472. Ah Mow-Santos, who played for Shoji from 1993 to 1996 and was a two-time AVCA first-team All-America selection (1995 and ‘96), said, “I am excited and humbled at the same time. Replacing Dave Shoji is impossible. I will never forget what he has done for me personally as well as the Hawaii volleyball program. Dave walked me out of the McKinley High School gym and into the Rainbow Wahine program that created a lot of opportunities for me. It’s a privilege for me to be able to give back to the university and the game that has given me so much. I look forward to reuniting with the student-athletes and hope that I can help create lasting impressions and unforgettable experiences for them.”

Shoji, who was on campus, said in a statement, “After much discussion with my wife, Mary, and my immediate family we felt the time was right to step away from coaching. I feel truly humbled and honored to have coached for 42 years and I’m grateful for all the support from our great fans, student-athletes, assistant coaches and administration. The selection of Robyn Ah Mow-Santos is an excellent choice. She has the passion for the game; she found success at every level as a player; and she paid her dues as an assistant coach and is now ready to assume a head coaching position. She will have my full support and I wish her nothing but the best.”
Matlin said, “We are excited about the return of Robyn Ah Mow-Santos to the (UH) Rainbow Wahine Volleyball program. There is no other person I can think of who represents the sport of volleyball, the spirit of Hawaii, and the heart of a champion more than Robyn. She was impressive as a student-athlete, a leader of Team USA in three Olympic Games and is an incredible role model for all young athletes. I know she will be able to get the best out of her student-athletes both in the classroom and on the court.”
From 2011 to 2015, Ah Mow-Santos served as assistant coach under Shoji, mentoring former UH setter Mita Uiato, who earned three all-league honors and honorable mention All-America recognition.

Career Highlights
Win number-one came inside the venerable Klum Gym back in 1975. As a 28-year-old coach, Shoji never imagined he would turn a one-year-old program into a national powerhouse. It would happen quickly. In Shoji’s first four years at the helm, he led the program to two national title matches before breaking through in 1979, when the Wahine earned a five-game victory over Utah State to claim the school’s first-ever team national championship. That was just the beginning. In 1981, he became UH’s first full-time coach for a women’s program, and responded by leading the team to its second national title. He repeated the feat the following year, becoming the first ever school to win back-to-back NCAA championships. The program’s fourth national championship match happened in 1987 with a sweep of Stanford.
While a fifth national title remained elusive, the numbers and accolades continued to pile up for the coach who never had a losing season. He became a 14-time conference coach of the year, 11-time regional coach of the year, and an inductee into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, the wins kept piling up, and few were bigger than a four-set win over New Mexico State in 2009, when Shoji notched career win number 1,000. Finally, this past season — which we now know was his last — the silly string fired again with win 1,200. Shoji ended his great career with 1,202 victories.

(25 Jan 2017) Firefalls from Kilauea Volcano on Big Island of Hawaii

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - Kilauea Volcano put on quite a show during much of the month of January 2017 with spectacular firefalls flowing lava into the Pacific Ocean.

(7 Jan 2017) Police Chief Louis Kealoha agrees to Retire

HPD Police Chief Louis Kealoha

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Jan 6, 2017
Following pressure from the city’s police commission, embattled Police Chief Louis Kealoha agreed to retire Friday rather than be forced out. The police chief and his wife, a high-ranking deputy prosecutor, are fighting off allegations of civil rights violations and abuse of powers. The decision ends the police career for a chief who was once considered a rising star, but who has been embroiled for more than a year in an ongoing public corruption case. Kealoha was on put on paid leave last month after receiving a "target letter" from federal prosecutors in connection with the case.

HONOLULU (AP) — The Honolulu Police Commission agreed to a $250,000 settlement package for retirement with Police Chief Louis Kealoha. The settlement announced Wednesday night includes an agreement that Kealoha would have to repay the money if he is convicted of a felony, local news reports said. The officer's retirement is effective March 1, and he will be on leave with pay until then. Kealoha will retire with 33 years of police service.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii—U.S. President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a historic and somber visit to Pearl Harbor on Tuesday to pay homage to the victims of Japan’s 1941 bombing here, which killed more than 2,400 Americans and drew the U.S. into World War II. The leaders each laid a wreath of peace lilies at the wall of the USS Arizona memorial that is etched with the names of the fallen U.S. service members and tossed Hawaiian orchids into the waters above the sunken vessel.

It marked the first appearance of a sitting Japanese prime minister at the memorial and was the companion visit to one Mr. Obama made in May to the Japanese city of Hiroshima, which was the first by a sitting U.S. president. Shinzo Abe struck a similar theme in his remarks as the president did at Hiroshima by acknowledging suffering from Japan’s surprise attack but stopping short of apology.

(12 Dec 2016) Concert Promoter Tom Moffatt, 85, Dies

Uncle Tom on KPOI Radio

With Elvis Presley

With Rihanna

With Haumea Ho and Bruno Mars

Honolulu – Tom Moffatt — radio disc jockey, concert promoter and one of the most influential figures in the Hawaii entertainment industry — died Monday. He was 85.
Longtime associate Barb Saito, operations manager and vice president of Tom Moffatt Productions, confirmed that Moffatt died Monday night at home after several months of declining health. She described the 35 years she worked with him as “an amazing ride.”

Born Dec. 30, 1930, in Detroit, Moffatt disliked city life and spent most of his teen years working on farms and going to school in small towns outside the Motor City. He came to Hawaii in 1950, enrolled in the University of Hawaii, gravitating toward a career in radio.

(7 Dec 2016) Pearl Harbor 75 Years Later

Pearl Harbor - 7 Dec 1941

Pearl Harbor - 7 Dec 1941

Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii – Sustained and appreciative ovations were given veterans of the Pearl Harbor attack and World War II during a special commemoration ceremony Wednesday, recognizing the 75th anniversary of the historic event.

The ceremony — at Kilo Pier on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, overlooking USS Arizona Memorial and Battleship Missouri Memorial — brought together on this momentous occasion hundreds of Pearl Harbor survivors and other World War II veterans and their families as well as Dec. 7 witnesses, elected officials and dignitaries.
Keynote speaker Adm. Harry B. Harris, commander, U.S. Pacific Command, praised the survivors for their selfless service, saying “we owe you an immeasurable debt” for standing watch and answering “the clarion call” of defending the embattled base and their country.

“It fell upon their brave shoulders to respond to the crisis that day,” Adm. Harris said. He said the scars of the attack remain today at the USS Arizona, Oklahoma and Utah Memorials. “They remind us of our history and how America responded with conspicuous valor.”

The admiral used a bible verse from Isaiah 6:8 as inspiration — “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” He said these were powerful words, extrapolating from the verse by adding “here I am America, send me.”
“You inspire us today and shape our future,” he told the veterans.

Adm. Harris himself received a lengthy and vocal ovation when he mentioned at the beginning of his speech about standing for the national anthem.
“You can bet that the men and women we honor today – and those who died that fateful morning 75 years ago – never took a knee and never failed to stand whenever they heard our national anthem being played,” he said.

A moment of silence was observed at 7:55 a.m. – the exact moment the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began 75 years ago. The guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97) rendered pass-in-review honors to the USS Arizona, and a missing man flyover was conducted above Pearl Harbor during the ceremony.

(1-7 Dec 2016) Snow in Hawaii

Mauna Kea Snow on Summit

Mauna Kea Snow and Ice

MAUNA KEA, Hawaii – More snow is expected to fall on Hawaii mountaintops as a winter storm warning goes into effect through Monday morning.
Hawaii News Now reports up to a foot more of snow could fall. This storm will add to the 2 feet of snow already on the summit.
A previous warning was lifted Saturday for a storm system that also brought frozen precipitation to higher elevations and heavy rain elsewhere.
The summits of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island are closed amid icy, windy, hazardous conditions.

(1 Dec 2016) Shooting near Mililani Town Center and High School

Stolen 2015 Ford Pickup Truck

Shooting Took Place Near Mililani High School

Mililani, Oahu - Two men were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds in a police-involved shooting near Mililani Town Center this afternoon. Honolulu police said officers responded at 1:15 p.m. to a report of a stolen vehicle at the Mililani Burger King. The driver of a Ford F-150 pickup truck allegedly rammed into a police vehicle, and continued forward nearly striking an police officer. The officer responded by shooting and hitting the driver and the front passenger. A 30-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound to the upper right back, while a 31-year old man had apparent gunshot wounds to the hip and right elbow, according to city Emergency Medical Services personnel. Both were taken to a hospital in serious condition. No one else was injured, including a third person (a women) in the vehicle.

Mililani High School went into lockdown for about half an hour as police converged on the Burger King across the street from campus. “Lockdown started at 1:15 p.m. in response to a police incident that took place at the nearby Burger King,” said Lindsay Chambers, spokeswoman for the Department of Education. “It was lifted at 1:50 p.m.” Travis Afuso, student body president at Mililani High, said he heard the lockdown announcement during his JROTC class around 1:15 p.m. Afuso, a junior, said teachers locked the doors and shut the windows. He said he and his classmates crouched under the tables and did not hear any updates for about 10 minutes. Afuso said the school later announced that there was a police incident at Burger King. “Initially I thought it was a shooter on campus. My mind was like, ‘oh my gosh what was going on,’” he said. “It was frightening.” Afuso added that some students initially thought there was a lockdown drill. He said in his three years at the high school, there has never been a lockdown. “This is very much an unusual event,” Afuso said. “This is quite a surprise. This is a very safe community.”

(28 Nov 2016) Kapolei Car Crash Kills 3

Heres what is left of the Nissan 350-Z Convertible

Kapolei, Oahu - Three people are dead after the speeding Nissan 350-Z car they were in hit a tree in Kapolei overnight. Police said the three male victims were in a car traveling “at a high rate of speed,” when the driver lost control of the vehicle, which went onto the sidewalk and smashed into a tree at about 11:15 p.m. Monday.
It was estimated that the car was going more than 100 mph in this 35 mph area.

The victims were pronounced dead at the scene, according to an Emergency Medical Services report. Hawaii Tokai International College issued a statement late today saying that the school “regretfully confirms that two of the victims of last night’s fatal single-car crash in Kapolei were students at HTIC.”
The students are from Japan and their families have been notified, school officials said., adding that they are awaiting official confirmation of the identity of the third victim. “Our thoughts are with the students and their families during this difficult time,” the statement said.
The vehicle was traveling town-bound on Farrington Highway and the crash happened near Papaiaulu Avenue.
Police closed Farrington Highway between Noulu Street and Kowelo Avenue until about 4 a.m. as Traffic Division officers investigated the crash scene.
It’s not known if drugs or alcohol was involved.

With this crash, there have been 49 fatalities on Oahu roads this year, compared to 44 at this time last year.

(16-23 Nov 2016) Waianae Wildfire

Wainanae Wildfire Burns on Mountain

Angel’s Junkyard on Waianae Valley Road

Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii -
Firefighters returned to Angel’s Towing and Used Auto Parts on Waianae Valley Road this morning after stopping a large brush fire from reaching the business Thursday night. Black smoke and flames rose from the business as firefighters battled the fire that flared up at about 9 a.m. Fire Department spokesman Capt. David Jenkins said strong winds apparently blew embers from the brush fire into an area where junked cars are stored, setting about 400 junk vehicles on fire. About 40 Honolulu firefighters and federal firefighters fought the blaze.

The fire was about 50 percent contained mostly at lower elevations, but was burning out of control in mostly inaccessible areas of the mountain and valley of eastern (or Lualualei side) of Waianae Valley, that quickly spread and intensified as the night wore on, burning along the top of the mountain that separates Waianae and Makaha. Helicopters were dropping water on the flames.

The weather forecast for the Waianae area calls for more strong winds today (Thursday 17 Nov 2016), blowing from the northeast at 15 to 25 mph. No significant rain is in the forecast.
Despite the winds, thick smoke hung over much of Waianae. Many residents felt threatened by the fire and self-evacuated.

After fighting the fire for more than a week, HFD declared the 2,000-acre fire contained.

(18-19 Nov 2016) Hawaii State Football Championships

Kahuku Fans at Aloha Stadium

St. Louis beats Kahuku to win Open Division State Championship

Mililani beats Iolani for D1 State Championship/td>

Lahainaluna beats Kapaa for D2 State Championship

Aloha Stadium

HHSAA Division II
Lahainaluna Lunas Warriors (School is located in Lahaina on the Big Island of Hawaii) beat Kapaa (School is located in Kapaa Town - North of Wailua on the island of Kauai) 21-14.
Every time I come across these Lahainaluna Lunas, they do something magical. Some might call it surreal. Blissful. Spiritual. When I saw them hang on to win at Konawaena last week, they handled victory with respect and humility. Konawaena’s football ohana fed the Lunas after the game, long after the large crowd had emptied out. Fourth time’s the charm for the Lahainaluna football team. After losing in the 2007, ’12 and ’14 HHSAA Division II state championship games, the Lunas finally got over the hump with a 21-14 win over Kapaa on Friday night at Aloha Stadium.
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HHSAA Division I
Mililani Trojans beats the Iolani Red Raiders 31-20 to win the HHSAA Division I championship game.
##
HHSAA Open Division (First year of this top division)
More than 20,000 people watched the Saint Louis Crusaders beat Kahuku Red Raiders 30-14 in the new Open Division.
It was a night to exorcise Saint Louis missed opportunities in state-title games of the past, including last year’s loss to Kahuku. It was also a night of straight-up, no-guts-no-glory play calling. It was Saint Louis’ night at the end, a stunning 30-14 victory over the number 1 team in the state - Kahuku.
Timmy Chang‘s 17-year state passing record is no more. Saint Louis senior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa surpassed Chang’s record of 8,001 career passing yards in style with a 52-yard touchdown pass on a deep ball to Jonah Panoke to give the Crusaders a 13-7 lead over Kahuku with 5:36 remaining in the second quarter.

(28 Oct 2016) OIA Football Championship

Waialua’s Tevesi Toia (2) gets around Waipahu’s Rylee O'Neill (23) during the second half of the 2016 OIA Division II football championship Game

Aloha Stadium

Waialua wins OIA D-II football title Friday night, 10/28/2016, Tevesi Toia threw for 256 yards and accounted for five touchdowns to lead Waialua to a stunning 36-35 victory over Waipahu to win the OIA Division II title tonight at Aloha Stadium.

The Bulldogs (7-2) stopped Waipahu (8-2) on fourth-and-1 with 38 seconds remaining to clinch their first OIA football championship in 61 years.

(24 Oct 2016) John John Florence Clinches His First World Surfing Title

John John Florence

John John Florence at Pipeline

John John Florence Clinches His First World Surfing Title

The surfing world knew John John Florence was the best. On Tuesday, 25 Oct 2016, he made it official.
With more than a month to go in the World Surf League’s Championship Tour, Florence, 24, a native of Oahu, Hawaii, claimed the title of world’s best surfer at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal in Peniche.

The tour’s conclusion, in December, at Florence’s home surf break Pipeline in Hawaii, will now be a victory lap.
Florence seemed destined for greatness as soon as he started surfing the Banzai Pipeline. His mother, Alexandra Florence, notoriously first put John John on a board at 6 months old.

At 13, he became the youngest surfer to compete at the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. In 2011, he became the youngest surfer to win it. Florence qualified for the world tour in 2011, and placed third in 2014. In 2015, he released “View From a Blue Moon,” a surf film he helped direct and edit. The movie — the first surf film shot in 4k resolution — is considered one of the greatest surf movies made by many.

“We’ve all watched him since he was 7 or 8 surfing around the North Shore and paddling out at Pipe,” Kelly Slater, the 11-time world champion, said. “I think if he didn’t win, it would seem like the natural order was out of place.”

(25 Aug 2016) New International Market Place Opens

Front View from Kalakaua Ave.

Inside View

View from Above

The Iconic 100-year-old Banyan Tree is Saved

Waikiki, OAHU - The New International Market Place Opened on 25 Aug 2016. The revitalized center in the heart of Waikiki will feature 75 stores, nine restaurants with indoor/outdoor seating on the third-level grand lanai, and Hawai‘i’s first Saks Fifth Avenue.

The iconic banyan tree that was the hallmark of the old International Marketplace is still standing. Actually, it is the only thing left over from the old place.

(20 Aug 2016) Hepatitis A Outbreak in Hawaii

Genki Sushi Restaurants

Philippines Distributor for the Scallops

Hepatitis A Information

Honolulu - The Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) is continuing to investigate a cluster of hepatitis A infections in the state. On August 15, 2016, HDOH identified raw scallops served at Genki Sushi restaurants on Oahu and Kauai as a likely source of the ongoing outbreak. The product of concern is Sea Port Bay Scallops (Wild Harvest, Raw Frozen) that originated in the Philippines, distributed by Koha Oriental Foods and True World Foods. As a result, HDOH ordered this product embargoed (not to be sold, purchased, or consumed) throughout the state, and the temporary closure of all Genki Sushi restaurants on Oahu and Kauai. The outbreak investigation is ongoing. It continues to be challenging because of the long incubation period of the disease (15 to 50 days) and the difficulty patients have in accurately recalling the foods consumed and locations visited during the period when infection could have taken place. Healthcare providers have been informed and are asked to notify HDOH immediately if they have a patient they suspect may be infected.

HDOH encourages Hawaii residents to consider getting vaccinated for hepatitis A, and advises that they talk to their healthcare provider about hepatitis A if they are interested. Vaccination for hepatitis A is strongly recommended for certain individuals who are especially at risk. Hawaii residents are also advised that the demand for the vaccine during the outbreak has led to varied supply levels around the state, so it is recommended that they call ahead to assure the vaccine is available at a particular clinic or pharmacy before going there.

The health department confirmed 206 cases of hepatitis A as of earlier this week. The disease can cause fever, loss of appetite, nausea and other ailments. Dr. Sarah Park, the state’s epidemiologist, said one key piece of information was that 70 percent of those infected had eaten at Genki Sushi, but only 22 to 23 percent of those who replied to a department survey had. She said health officials didn’t get a response like that for any other restaurant, food chain or grocery store. Park said the department is concerned the scallops may have been served or distributed to places other than Genki Sushi because a small number of patients say they didn’t eat at the chain. Park said the distributor said it only provided the scallops to the Genki Sushi.

(27 Jul 2016) 'Smiling' Kilauea Volcano

'Smiling' Kilauea volcano sends lava flow coursing into ocean

(25 Jul 2016) Tropical Storm Darby Soaks Hawaii Islands

Darby's Path

H-1 Freeway in Honolulu

Hawaii Islands - Tropical storm Darby delivered locally heavy rain, gusty winds and rough surf to Hawaii into early Monday, but the tropical storm will provide long-term benefits. It dumped almost a foot of much needed rain water on the islands.

Darby made landfall on Hawaii's Big Island on Saturday afternoon local time, in the vicinity of where Hurricane Iselle made landfall in 2014. Darby will continue towards Kauai into early Monday, gradually weakening to a tropical depression.

The rain caused extensive damage on the island of Oahu. About 200 homes were flooded - there was a major sewage spill - the H-1 Freeway was under 3 feet of water in spots and had to be closed.

(18 and 20 Jul 2016) Kirk Matthews and Mark Takai Die

Mark Takai

Kirk Matthews and Linda Coble

Mark Takai was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Hawaii's 1st Congressional District from 2015 until his death on July 20, 2016. He died following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Takai was also a former Democratic member of the Hawaii House of Representatives. He represented District 34 from 1994 to 2012 and District 33 from 2012 to 2014. He served as Vice Speaker from 2005 to 2006. Prior to his death, Takai had decided not to seek re-election in 2016 after finding out that his cancer had spread.

Takai grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, where his father worked as an electrical engineer and his mother worked as a local government employee. Takai graduated from Pearl City High School, having served as student body president and editor-in-chief of the school paper. He was a two-time All-American swimmer and graduated with honors in 1985. After high school, Takai attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he continued his involvement with competitive swimming and student government. He graduated with a B.A. in 1990 and went on to earn his M.P.H. from the same university in 1993.Takai was elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives at the age of 27, serving from 1994 to 2014.

Takai became a First Lieutenant in the Hawaii Army National Guard in 1999 and was promoted to the position of Lieutenant Colonel in 2013.

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Longtime news anchor and reporter Kirk Matthews has died. He passed away peacefully at his home with his wife (Linda Coble) and family by his side. He was 69 years old and had been battling stage 4 lung cancer. Matthews kept the public informed with his warm style of storytelling and reporting for more than 40 years.

He came to Hawaii in 1983 after a successful career in radio and television in Oregon, and joined KHON2 in the summer of 1987. He retired in 2014. Matthews was known to many not just as a great newsman, but as “Uncle Kirk,” a close friend and mentor who could make anyone laugh. He was a lover of the arts, and of University of Hawaii athletics. He was often seen cheering on the home team.

He was also a true humanitarian, having devoted countless hours raising money for numerous island charities and non-profit organizations.

“He was just a distinguished anchorman, very responsible, and then on lighter occasions, he would use his dry wit to make you belly laugh, and all of a sudden you’re belly laughing on television, and trying to get him to stop being so funny,” said former co-anchor and PBS Hawaii president and CEO Leslie Wilcox.

(7 Jul 2016) RIMPAC 2016

RIMPAC 2016 Ships

Russian Spy Ship

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - Twenty-seven nations (including China), 45 ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise scheduled, June 30 - Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and southern California. As the world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971

(30 May 2016) Jazz Singer JimmyBorges Dies

Honolulu - Jimmy Borges, Hawaii’s gentleman of jazz, died Monday at age 80, having faced his recurring cancer with the same gutsy attitude that propelled him from hardscrabble Kalihi to the glittering stages of Las Vegas. His velvety voice and charisma sustained Borges through 60 years on stage, but what struck listeners most is how the jazz and pops singer spoke to them through song.

“It’s not just making sounds,” Borges explained in an interview in January. “Many, many singers nowadays think it’s about making beautiful sounds. But it’s like chewing gum. The taste is there, then the taste is gone. When I sing a song that tells a good story, they’ll remember it 30 years from now.”

Borges beat back liver cancer a few years ago only to have it resurface in his lungs. He embraced the time he had left rather than further medical intervention that was likely to be futile.

His wife, Vicki Bergeron Borges, said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, “On behalf of Jimmy, his daughter Steffanie Borges-Juergenson, and our entire family, we are so very grateful for the love and support we have received from our friends, our community and from Jimmy’s fans in Hawaii and throughout the world during these final months of his life. His decision to live his way until the very end was exactly the right thing for Jimmy and both a gift and a lesson for the rest of us.”

The family is planning a small, private Catholic Mass but details on a “more public” memorial will be released at a later date.

Borges went out on a high note, winning four awards at the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards Saturday, including male vocalist of the year, album of the year and entertainer of the year, for his swan-song album, “Jimmy Borges.” He was too ill to attend, but his wife, Vicki, and daughter, Steffanie, represented him.

A magnetic presence, Borges thrived on stage where he could connect personally with his audience. He is credited with helping keep jazz and the great American songbook alive in Honolulu. From the music of Cole Porter to James Taylor, Frank Sinatra to Stevie Wonder — Borges put his own jazzy stamp on each song, backed by the town’s top musicians.

Borges sang at the “Forbidden City” nightclub in San Francisco before being recruited to Las Vegas in 1959, where he replaced the star of a show called “Holiday in Japan.” He remembers being thrilled, “as a Catholic boy,” to be surrounded by dozens of beautiful women on stage. “It was like climbing that mango tree in my backyard,” he recalled, and feasting on the fruit.

From Vegas, Borges was tapped to star in a show at the renowned Latin Quarter nightclub in New York City. He went on to perform at venues ranging from the Copacabana Palace Hotel in Rio de Janeiro to Boston’s Schubert Theater, from cosy clubs to jazz festivals for tens of thousands.

Borges headlined Keone’s, a jazz club in Waikiki, for several years in the 1970s. Then he and pianist Betty Loo Taylor held court for 10 years at Trappers in the Hyatt Regency, through 1986. “He did really well and attracted a big following,” said longtime friend Gordon Sakamoto. “Not just locals, but a lot of well known entertainers stopped by there a lot. People like Tony Bennett, Jack Jones, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. They had heard about him.” Bennett was quoted as saying of Borges, “Wherever this man goes, follow him. He’s one of the best singers I’ve ever heard.”

“I have lived a life filled with the hugs of so many people,” Borges said as the evening closed. “I wouldn’t trade any of those hugs in for one extra year.”

(29 May 2016) Don Robbs Calls His Last Game

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - 36 years after he told University of Hawaii baseball fans the team was making it's first trip to the College World Series in Omaha, the only radio voice Rainbow Warrior baseball has ever known still remembers every moment of the broadcast. "In the press box with me were a couple of members of the athletic administration, screaming, jumping up and down, slapping me on the back," said Don Robbs. "And all I could say was, 'We're going to Omaha!' Something nobody ever thought was possible."

The Omaha sendoff is among the most memorable moments of Don Robbs' legendary 40 year career broadcasting Hawaii baseball games on the radio... A career that will come to an end on Sunday, when he broadcasts his final game for the Rainbows. "I'll just miss being at the ballpark," said Robbs. "I'll miss looking out the window and seeing familiar faces, fans who have been coming to games, almost from the beginning of my time. I'll miss being around the players, because they make an old guy feel younger."

Despite those concerns, it seems Robbs may not have so much to worry about. He admits that his departure from the broadcast booth is not likely to mean a departure from U.H. baseball. "I won't be shouting down to Trap to change the pitcher, or any of that sort of thing," Robbs says with a laugh. "I'll be back in the stands next season, but the difference is I'll be sitting in a seat, with a cold brew right next to me, and I intend to just sit back and be a fan."

After calling more than 2,000 games in his career, he's certainly earned that opportunity. But for Robbs, life at Les Murakami Stadium outside of its broadcast booth is uncharted territory. "There are certain unknown factors after 40 years. I mean, to do anything for 40 years, whatever you do for a living, it's unbelievable," said Robbs. "I'm just grateful I've been able to do it. It's been a great ride."

Robbs will broadcast the final game of his career, and the final game of the University of Hawaii baseball season, on Sunday, 29 May 2016 at 1 p.m. on ESPN1420.

(23 May 2016) Two Plane Crashes in Hawaii

HONOLULU (AP) — Five people died after a skydiving tour plane crashed and caught fire in Hawaii, one of two plane crashes reported Monday in the islands. It happened about 9:30 a.m. on the island of Kauai, the county fire department said. The pilot, two skydive instructors and two tandem jumpers were believed to be on the plane. Four of them were pronounced dead at the crash site, just outside Port Allen Airport. One man was taken to Wilcox Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The group was believed to have been part of a tour operated by SkyDive Kauai, county firefighters said. The company offers tours from Port Allen. Kauai firefighters said the identities of the dead haven't been released.

The National Transportation Safety Board will work with officials to determine the cause of the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration will also investigate. The plane was a single-engine Cessna 182H. It's unclear what led to the crash.

A few hours later Monday off the coast of the island of Oahu, emergency responders took one person to a nearby hospital after a small aircraft crashed in the water off Makaha Beach Park. County lifeguards brought two people to shore from a single engine aircraft that was about 30 yards off the coast. The other person in the airplane wasn't injured.

State Department of Health data shows 20 visitors died in aircraft crashes in Hawaii from 2005 to 2014, including one skydiver. The others were killed in plane, helicopter and light sport aircraft crashes. Over the same period, 24 residents were killed in air crashes, including four skydivers.

(21 May 2016) HPU Mens Tennis Team Wins NCAA Championship

DENVER – Hawai’i Pacific had finished runner-up at the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship five times since 2000, including each of the last two season. However, the third-ranked Sharks claimed that elusive NCAA Tennis title on Saturday, beating No. 1 Saint Leo in the title match, 5-3. Saint Leo pulled ahead 2-1 after doubles, winning at No. 3 in a tiebreaker, 9-8 (7-3). Thibaud Berland won in straight-sets at No. 1, but the Lions prevailed at No. 3 to keep a one-point advantage. Singles 4-6 all went into the third set and that is where the Sharks struck. Jakub Hadrava tied the match with a win at No. 6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Filip Dolezel won at No. 4 in a tiebreaker, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3). Torben Otto clinched the win at No. 5 with a dominant third set, 6-4, 5-7, 6-1.

(7 May 2016) Mililani Girl Wins MMA Championship

SINGAPORE - Mililani alum Angela Lee became ONE Championship’s first female champion with a unanimous decision over Mei Yamaguchi to claim the inaugural women’s world atomweight title today at ONE: Ascent to Power at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.

Lee (6-0) was fighting in the first ONE event headlined by a women’s fight. The 19-year-old former high school state wrestling champion with the Trojans survived an overhand right to start the third round that dropped her within the first 10 seconds. Yamaguchi (15-9-1), who has never been stopped in a fight, almost ended it with an armbar but Lee survived. Lee dominated the last two rounds with a variety of submission attempts and landed a hard kick to the gut in round five that stunned Yamaguchi.

(7 May 2016) Triple Murder in Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii

John Ali Hoffman, 49 The Murderer

House where murders took place

PUNA, BIG ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) - Police have charged a 49-year-old Puna man (John Ali Hoffman, 49) of killing his wife and two children. The charges include first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder and a firearms charge. John Ali Hoffman's bail was set at $2.75 million.

Police said they were called to the rural Leilani Estates subdivision about 1:30 a.m., after getting a report about a disturbance. When they arrived, police stopped Hoffman, who was driving away from his Moku Street home without his lights on. Police said they arrested Hoffman after seeing a gun in his front seat. Officers then spotted blood dripping from the trunk of the car, and found the woman's body inside. Police said she had been fatally shot.

Police then checked the home where the reported disturbance happened and found the bodies of two children, a boy and a girl. Both of them also died of gunshot wounds.

(4 May 2016) Price leaving Perry on morning radio

Michael Perry and Larry Price

Effective May 15, Larry Price will end his 33-year run as part of the Perry and Price morning radio show on KSSK-FM 92.3/AM 590.

Later this month, Price, 81, will begin co-hosting a new sports show that will air on Saturdays at 11 a.m. with Rick Hamada on sister-station KIKI-AM 990, branded “FOX Sports 990.”

The charges come after a nearly-year-long criminal investigation by the attorney general’s office over Kenoi’s improper use of a county-issued credit card, or pCard.
Kenoi already admitted to and publicly apologized for using his pCard on personal items such as $1,200 for a surfboard and nearly $900 at a Honolulu hostess bar in one night. A closer look at his statements revealed tens of thousands of dollars were also spent on travel, meals and drinks.

According to the attorney general’s office, he was indicted on eight counts:
Counts 1 and 2: Theft in the Second Degree, Class C felonies each punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Counts 3 and 4: Theft in the Third Degree, misdemeanors each punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Counts 5, 6 and 7: Tampering with a Government Record, misdemeanors each punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Count 8: False Swearing, a petty misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The charges arose from alleged conduct taking place from 2011 through 2015.

UPDATE on 1 Nov 2016 - Big Island Major Billy Kenoi found NOT GUILTY of all charges!!

(20 Mar 2016) University of Hawaii Mens Basketball Team Loses to Maryland in NCAA TournamentNCAA tournament dream ends for Rainbow Wahine in 66-50 loss to UCLA

UH Wahine Basketball Team Wins Big West Tournament Coach Laura Beeman talks to team during Loss to UCLA in NCAA Tournament

SPOKANE, WA (HawaiiNewsNow) - The University of Hawaii's historic run into the NCAA tournament has come to an end in Spokane, Washington. Two days after winning their first NCAA tournament game in school history, the Rainbow Warriors fell to the University of Maryland 73-60 on Sunday to end any hope of the program's first-ever trip to the Sweet Sixteen.

LOS ANGELES (HawaiiNewsNow) - A storybook season for the University of Hawaii women's basketball team has come to an end in Tinseltown. After winning the 2016 Big West Tournament to secure a March Madness berth for the first time in 18 years, the Rainbow Wahine fell to UCLA, 66-50, in Saturday's first-round match-up.

(7 Mar 2016) University of Hawaii Basketball Team Win Big West Conference Honors

UH Basketball Team Wins Big West Conference Championship

UH Basketball Team Wins Big West Conference Championship

ANAHEIM, CALIF. The Hawaii basketball team received high marks in the Big West Conference’s postseason awards announced today. Forward Stefan Jankovic was named the Big West Player of the Year, becoming just the second player in program history to receive a conference’s top individual honor. The Serbian-born junior averaged 15.7 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 55.9 percent from the field. Coach Eran Ganot was named Big West Coach of the Year after taking over the program last April and guiding UH to a 24-5 overall record and 13-3 in conference play, sharing the Big West regular-season title with UC Irvine. Jankovic and point guard Roderick Bobbitt were named to the Big West first team, marking the second time in three years UH placed two players there (Isaac Fotu and Christian Standhardinger, 2013-14). Wing Aaron Valdes was named to the second team.

Hawaii’s only previous conference player of the year was Anthony Carter, the WAC Pacific Division Player of the Year in 1996-97. Ganot became UH’s first conference coach of the year not named Riley Wallace. Wallace won it three times in the WAC: 1988-89, 1996-97, and 2001-02.

Top-seeded UH opens the Big West tournament on Thursday against eighth-seeded Cal State Fullerton at Anaheim’s Honda Center. To make the NCAA Tournament, the Rainbow Warriors must win three times in three days

(25 Feb 2016) The Eddie is a GO at Waimea Bay

John John Florence Wins the Eddie

Waimea Bay: Hawaiian surfer John John Florence battled monster waves (up to 55 feet high) and some of the world's top surfers to win Thursday's Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau contest. "The Eddie," as it's known, is only held when waves in Waimea Bay top 20 feet, which hadn't happened since 2009. Waimea only gets huge swells in the winter, so organizers block out a three-month window from December to February and hope for a Pacific storm. They got their wish this year -- with just days to spare. A Pacific storm with hurricane-force winds north of Hawaii churned up powerful swells that pounded surfers for hours. Florence scored 301 points on his four waves, beating Australian Ross Clarke-Jones, who had a near-perfect run in the second round. Hawaiian Shane Dorian came in third.

(23 Feb 2016) 50 Foot Waves Close Road on North Shore of Oahu

50 Foot Waves on Oahu North Shore

Waves Closes Kam Highway

Oahu North Shore: Dangerous surf waves with heights up to 50 feet washed over roads, flooded beach parks, threatened at least 1 home, kept lifeguards busy and prompted the closure of a large section of Kamehameha Highway (12 miles) on Oahu’s North Shore. The state Department of Transportation closed the highway at 2 p.m. in both directions from Haleiwa to Turtle Bay, because of the high surf and reopened the road at about 6 p.m., when the surf subsided. Emergency crews were watching a home on Kamehameha Highway that was in danger of falling into the water.

Lifeguards rescued 115 people and issued 1,250 warnings at Sandy’s and other east-shore beaches, where wave heights were reported up at up to 30 feet. Makapuu Beach Park closed this afternoon after a boat broke free of its moorings at about 2:15 p.m. and drifted to Makapuu because of the northerly swell. The boat broke up in the surf zone sending debris into the water. Six rescues and 1,000 warnings were issued on the west shore, where waves reached heights of 30 to 40 feet and water washed over the road at Makaha Beach. Lifeguards also issued 950 warnings on North Shore beaches. There were no rescues and most people stayed out of the water on the North shore, where wave heights were estimated at 50 feet at Waimea Bay and conditions were choppy.

The city Department of Parks and Recreation closed Haleiwa Alii Beach Park after waves flooded a parking lot. Two other parks — Haleiwa Beach Park and Waimea Bay — were also closed. The state also cited “dangerously high surf conditions” in closing Keawaula Bay in the Kaena Point State Park Reserve today. Debris washed over parts of Kamehameha Highway at Laniakea, Chun’s and Rockpiles overnight after the high surf combined with north winds and high tide at 3 a.m washed over roads. North and west shores on Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai and north shores of Maui and Hawaii island are under a high surf warning until 6 p.m. Tuesday, 23 Feb 2016. East shores of Oahu, and west shores of Maui and Hawaii islands are under a high surf advisory. On Kauai, the county advised beachgoers that there is “no swimming” at North Shore beaches from Polihale to Anini Beach. Lifeguards reported waves of up to 35 feet with strong rip currents. Spectators are also advised to use extreme caution, as large breaking waves are sweeping up onto the shoreline and can easily knock people off their feet and drag them into rough surf.

The surf conditions were not good enough for The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau big wave surf contest. More large surf is expected on Thursday, 25 Feb and they are hoping the waves will be good enough to run the Eddie.

(18 Feb 2016) Tourist Helicopter Crashes at Pearl Harbor

Tourist Helicopter Going Down

Helicopter Crashes into Pearl Harbor

Bystanders Go into the Water to Save Passengers

Crash happened near the USS Arizona Memorial

Pearl Harbor, OAHU - Shawn Winrich had just gotten off the boat that takes visitors to the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor when he decided to use his smart phone to snap photos of the beautiful scenery. As he clicked away, he noticed a helicopter dropping in altitude near the hundred or so people gathered at the Remembrance Circle. Something was odd, he told CNN affiliate KHON, so he switched the camera to video. "But then it started coming really low, and kinda coming straight at me," he told the Honolulu station. "It seemed out of place and not normal." The serendipitous video of the helicopter, with five people aboard, smacking down into the water and rolling over, ends quickly after the crash. The Thursday morning accident occurred just 40 feet from him and he felt like he needed to help. "Immediately everybody just started running to help," he said. Winrich said three people surfaced right away followed by a fourth, but they told would-be rescuers that they couldn't find the fifth person.

Chris Gardner of Keawe Adventures said he heard the copter crash into the water and ran to help. The lifelong resident of Hawaii dove into the water where he and a Naval police officer came upon the victim still strapped into his seat in the rear of the helicopter. The water was about 10 feet deep, Gardner said. They took turns cutting the seat belt, he told KHON until the officer pulled him out and up to the surface. The young man was unresponsive, Gardner said. A spokesman for Honolulu Emergency Medical Services said the 16-year-old boy was in critical condition. Two other patients -- a 50-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman -- were hospitalized and are in stable condition. Spokesman Shayne Enright said the two other patients were transported by the Federal Fire Department. There was no immediate word on their conditions.

Daniel Rose said he thought the pilot was trying to avoid hitting the tourists. "If he would have hit on land, there was 100 people standing right there, he would have hurt a lot of people," he told KHON. A woman who was in the crowd said people screamed to look out. "When we first saw it I actually turned and said, 'Do those land on water? Because that looks like it's coming," Darla Thompson said. "And then within like a second somebody else yelled to get down and then we just turned and tried to take cover.

(14 Jan 2016) Two Marine helicopters Crash off the North Shore

CH-53E Super Stallion Helicopter

Marine Helicopter Operating Off Shore in Hawaii

North Shore, OAHU - Volatile weather hampered the search Saturday for 12 Marines who were on two helicopters that crashed in mid-air off the coast of Hawaii according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The two CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters were conducting a nighttime training mission at the time of the incident, which happened off the coast of Haleiwa, located on the North Shore of Oahu.

The search expanded Saturday from Waianae to Kahuku, and the search area extends eight miles out to sea, the Coast Guard said. By 8 a.m. Saturday 22 searches had covered 5,000 square nautical miles, the Coast Guard said. The Coast Guard reported "no significant developments" Saturday. "Weather still a challenge," the Coast Guard said. Searchers were contending with winds up to 12 mph and 13-foot swells.

"Everybody's putting every available resource they have to try and find survivors from this accident," Coast Guard Lt. Scott Carr said Friday. "With a little bit of luck and a little bit of prayer, we'll be successful." Carr said debris had been found across the entire search area, but there were no signs of survivors. The cause of the crash, involving aircraft from the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing from Marine Corps Base Hawaii, has not yet been determined.

Chase Tantog said he was fishing on the shore when the helicopters collided nearby, lighting the sky in an instant. "It was just a big fireball coming down … It was like daytime," Tangtog said. "I thought the world was going to end."

The CH-53E Super Stallion Helicopter is the Marine Corps’ primary heavy lift helicopter and has been in service for over 30 years. There are currently 152 CH-53E aircraft in operation. The Super Stallion incorporates GPS, doppler radar, FLIR, and ANVIS-HUD sensors, and carries 7.62mm and 50 caliber guns (as a mission kit). Communications include UHF/VHF/HF radios, secure comm. capability, and IFF. Currently out of production. Requirement exists to operate the CH-53E through 2025, necessitating a Service Life Extension Program.

The heavy-lift helicopter of the Marine Corps can carry a 26,000-pound Light Armored Vehicle, 16 tons of cargo 50 miles and back, or enough combat-loaded Marines to lead an assault or humanitarian operation. Though powerful enough to lift every aircraft in the Marine inventory except the KC-130, the CH-53E Super Stallion is compact enough to deploy on amphibious assault ships, and has the armament, speed and agility to qualify as much more than a heavy lifter.

Armed with window-mounted .50-caliber machine guns, chaff and flare dispensers for anti-air defense, an in-flight refueling probe for limitless range and a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) imager for night and all-weather navigation, the Marine CH-53E is commonly called on for assault transport of Marine ground forces. Though long-range insertion missions are standard protocol for this Marine workhorse, it is the rapid resupply of Marines at the forefront that makes the Super Stallion one of the most used aircraft in Marine Aviation.

(6 Jan 2016) End of Sugar in Hawaii

Sugar Cane Fields

Sugar Cane Hauling Trucks

Sugar Cane Processing Plant

Burning the Sugar Cane Fields

Makawao, Maui — Hawaii's last sugar plantation is getting out of the sugar-growing business, signaling the end of an industry that once powered the local economy and lured thousands of immigrants to the islands. Alexander & Baldwin Inc. said Wednesday that it will phase out sugar by the end of 2016. Its 36,000 acre-Maui plantation will be divided into smaller farms to grow biofuels and food crops. Some of the land will be irrigated to supply pasture to local cattle ranchers. The company says all 675 people who work for its Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar subsidiary will be laid off. About half will be retained through the end of this year's sugar harvest.

Alexander & Baldwin was founded by sugar-growing descendants of Protestant missionaries 145 years ago. Sugar and pineapple plantations run by big landowners once dominated Hawaii's economy. Sugar in particular took off after 1876 when Hawaii, which was still a monarchy at the time, won the ability to export the commodity to the United States duty-free. Plantation owners later played a prominent role in running Hawaii after the U.S.-backed overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Plantations remained the islands' economic engine until the launch of passenger jet travel shortened the length of flights from the West Coast and triggered a tourism boom.

The plantations drew immigrants from China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Portugal and elsewhere to work in the fields, giving Hawaii the ethnic diversity still evident today. Benjamin said Alexander & Baldwin "made every effort" to avoid ending sugar growing. But he said it suffered $30 million in agribusiness losses last year and expected further red ink if no changes were made. A&B doesn't have any plans for large land sales, though it may sell some small parcels as it has in the past, Benjamin said. The entire property is zoned for agriculture, and the company plans to keep it that way.

(2 Dec 2015) Big Island has Outbreak of Dengue Fever

Infected Mosquito Bites Cause Dengue Fever

HAWAII ISLAND – The total number of confirmed cases of locally-acquired dengue fever on Hawaii Island is now 120. Of the confirmed cases, the Hawaii Department of Health reports 102 are Hawaii Island residents and 18 are visitors. 92 cases have been adults; 28 have been children under 18 years of age. Onset of illness started between 9/11/2015 – 11/20/2015. As of today, the state says a total of 268 reported potential cases have been excluded based on test results and/or not meeting case criteria.

(30 Nov 2015) University of Hawaii Hires New Football Coach

Nick Rolovich

Norm Chow

MANOA, OAHU - New UH football head coach Nick Rolovich wants team to ‘live aloha and play Warrior’ New University of Hawaii head football coach Nick Rolovich, 36, used the example of the many times he’s watched a Disney movie with his children to make a point of where he wants to lead the Rainbow Warrior football program back to a winning tradition.

Norm Chow fired as University of Hawaii head football coach on 4 Nov 2015. Hawaii fired coach Norm Chow, effective immediately, a day after the Rainbow Warriors lost 58-7 to Air Force to drop to 2-7 on the season. Chris Naeole will serve as the interim coach for the remainder of the 2015 season.

(Oct 2015) Rash of BB and/or pellet gun-related shootings on Oahu

BB Gun Pistol

BB Gun Injury

Honolulu (HawaiiNewsNow) -
Honolulu police arrested a 17-year-old boy suspected as the triggerman in a BB gun drive-by shooting of a group of teens in Makiki Oct. 16 that injured four juveniles near the Makiki Fire Station.

According to police, the suspect was arrested following a traffic stop while he was driving a moped near McCully Street and Ala Wai Boulevard around 1 a.m. Wednesday morning. An officer recognized the boy as the alleged suspect in the BB gun shooting case that happened on Piikoi Street just near Wilder Avenue nearly three weeks ago. The suspect, unidentified because he's a minor, was booked for six counts of second-degree assault.

The afternoon of the shooting, police arrested the suspected 25-year-old driver of a white minivan that witnesses described as being involved. Justin Souvanna has since posted a $2,000 bail after being charged with second-degree felony assault. The incident was the 18th reported BB and/or pellet gun-related shooting on Oahu during the month of October.

(5 Nov 2015) Shark Attacks at Record Pace

Shark Sightings in Waikiki>Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark

HAWAII -
***JAWS*** Shark attacks off Waikiki, Lanikai seriously injure 2 men.
Boy seriously injured in apparent shark attack in Makaha.
Shark warning signs were removed from Kaimana Beach in Waikiki this morning after no further sharks were seen in the area.
The signs were posted Sunday after an 8 to 10-foot tiger shark was seen in the area just before 5 p.m.
An Ocean Safety official said the shark was not aggressive and all the surfers in the area were able to safely leave the water.
There have been eight (8) shark attacks so far this year (2015) with one being fatal - 7 Tiger Sharks and 1 Reef Shark
In the last three years, the number of shark attacks in Hawaii has tripled compared to the number of attacks 10 to 15 years ago
And, since 2012, more than 60 percent of all shark attacks in the Aloha State occurred just off Maui.
All fatal shark attacks in the last 20 years in Hawaii have occurred near Maui, and three of those happened in the last three years (one this year).

(15 Sep 2015) It is HOT! HOT! HOT! in Hawaii

High Tempertures in Hawaii Classrooms

Many People are Heading for the Beach

Dogs need to stay cool, too

Home Depot, Lowes, and City Mill are out of ACs

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -
The soaring temperatures and humidity have produced more than 50 high temperature records statewide this summer, according to the National Weather Service. This was the hottest August ever recorded in Kahului, which had an average temperature of 91 degrees. It was also the hottest August ever measured in Hilo with an average temperature of nearly 87 degrees. Once the humidity is factored in, it feels a lot hotter than the actual temperature. The heat index value (how hot it actually feels like) have been over 100 degrees most days.

The warm ocean temperatures around the state are contributing to the problem. The ocean temperatures around Hawaii are up 3 to 5 degrees above what we typically see this time of year, so our air temperatures are consequently raised as well several degrees. Another factor is the light trade winds. The state climatologist has been tracking the average number of trade wind days annually since 1981. The northeast trade wind dropped from about 200 days to just a little bit over 150 days so we see almost 25% fewer trade wind days.

This record heat is causing major problems in our schools where 94 percent don't have AC. Many teachers are saying that kids are showing signs of heat exhaustion in the 90+ degree classrooms. Several organizations and private citizens have donated fans to the schools but when it is this hot, the fans just blow the hot air around and it doesn't help much. The state says that installing air conditioning in all of the classroom would be too expensive.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Marcus Mariota looked right at home standing on the sideline in the fourth quarter, watching his teammates close out a lopsided victory.

The rookie quarterback made it look as easy as he did in college Sunday, throwing four touchdown passes and outplaying No. 1 overall draft pick Jameis Winston in their NFL debuts to lead the Tennessee Titans to a 42-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The highly anticipated season opener featuring the first two players selected in the draft was one-sided from the start, not unlike many of Mariota's dazzling performances at Oregon, where he routinely built big early leads.

(1 Sep 2015) 3 Category 4 Hurricanes in the Pacific treaten Hawaii

3 Hurricanes Near Hawaii

Honolulu - A very rare meteorological event occurred on Saturday and Sunday morning when three Category 4 hurricanes were ongoing simultaneously in the Pacific Ocean. At 11 p.m. EDT Saturday, Huricane Kilo (135 mph) was located well southwest
of the Hawaiian Islands followed by Hurricane Ignacio (140 mph) to the east of Hawaii and Hurricane Jimena (140 mph) in
the eastern Pacific. Kilo was the last of the trio to reach Category 4 status, doing so on Saturday evening. For reference,
hurricanes with maximum sustained winds of 130-156 mph are classified as Category 4, which is the second highest category
on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
This is the first recorded occurrence of three Category 4 hurricanes in the central and eastern Pacific basins at the same time. In addition, it's also the first time with three major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger) in those basins simultaneously, according to hurricane specialist Eric Blake of the National Hurricane Center.
This satellite image shows the three Category 4 hurricanes in the Pacific Sunday morning (Kilo - left, Ignacio - center, Jimena - right.

(10 Aug 2015) The Homeless are Overrunning the Island of Oahu

Setup Camp along the Kapalama Canal

In Kakaako

Most any area not covered by the new laws

There are more homeless living on the Leeward Coast

THE HOMELESS HAVE BEEN IN THE HEADLINES ALMOST EVERY DAY LATELY.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND: The large homeless population on the island of Oahu has been a BIG PROBLEM for many years - Especially in tourist areas like Waikiki and the downtown business district. Finally Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed a new sit-lie law (Sep 2014) which makes it a petty misdemeanor to sit or lie on a sidewalk or go to the bathroom in public within the Waikiki Special District. He also signed another law that prohibits public urination and defecation throughout all of Oahu. Another law makes it illegal to sleep in the city/state parks over night. Anyone found guilty of breaking the laws can be punished by up to 30 days in jail and as much as a $1,000 fine. IT IS ABOUT TIME SOMEBODY HAD THE GUTS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM!!

The Mayor stated that there are shelter beds for most of the homeless but the beds remain empty. MOST OF THE HOMELESS DON'T LIKE TO FOLLOW THE REQUIRED RULES.

These new laws have forced many of the homeless out of Waikiki and downtown Honolulu. THIS IS GOOD BUT IT HAS CREATED A NEW PROBLEM. The homeless are sitting up tent cities all over the island including the Kapalama Canal, Kakaako, and in Wahiawa all around Wilson Lake. See pictures.

(1-8 Aug 2015) Wahiawa Wildfire

Wildfire gets close to houses

Fire Department protects area

WAHIAWA, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Firefighters are continuing to keep a close watch on a wildfire that came dangerously close to homes in Wahiawa. So far, around 475 acres have been scorched by the flames, but no structures have been burned. However, area schools were canceled Tuesday because of the heavy smoke that has also been causing some potentially hazardous conditions. Officials say some homes in the area were temporarily evacuated Monday night. Residents of Nonohe Street, Nonohe Place, Puni Noni Street, and Puni Noni Place were evacuated by officials as crews to battled the flames on Monday. The Hawaii Red Cross set up an emergency shelter at Wahiawa District Park for those affected by the brush fire. The mandatory evacuation was lifted around 7 p.m. Monday. Honolulu firefighters are monitoring the flames and are going door to door warning residents of the situation.

Helicopters continue to drop water on the fire in hopes to stall the blaze, but strong winds are making it difficult. The fire is only about 10 percent contained on Wednesday but was 90% contained on Friday, 8/7/2015.

(3 Jul 2015) Solar Airplane Lands in Hawaii

Solar Impulse Airplance Reaches Hawaii

Solar Impulse Airplance Getting Ready to Land

Oahu, Hawaii - At the controls of Solar Impulse 2, André Borschberg landed safely at Kalaeloa Air Field (Barbers Point) on July 3rd at 05:55 local time, after a perilous non-stop flight of 5 days and nights.

Battery problems on the Solar Impulse, the airplane that has been flying around the world using only the sun's power, have grounded the plane until next spring. The lithium-ion batteries overheated on a recent five-day trip from Japan to Hawaii. The setback comes after the plane's nearly 118-hour trip from Japan to Hawaii shattered the previous record for the longest duration nonstop solo flight, with pilot André Borschberg (one of the craft's two alternating pilots) at the controls. That trip ended with a safe landing in Hawaii on July 3.

When it flies, the Solar Impulse follows a pattern of soaring to 28,000 feet during daylight conditions, then using battery power as it glides at slower speeds for much of the night. For the 4,481-mile journey from Japan to Hawaii, its average ground speed was around 38 miles per hour. Between now and next April, the Solar Impulse team says, they'll work to repair the plane's batteries and try to figure out a better cooling and insulation system. Then they'll try to resume the trip that began in Abu Dhabi in March. The plane has 17,000 solar cells on its surface; it stores power in lithium-ion batteries that account for about 1,400 of the craft's overall weight of some 5,000 pounds.

Total distance around the earth is 35,000km or about 22,000 miles.

(1 Jul 2015) Plastic Bag Ban

No More Plastic Bags at the Checkout Counter

Customers are encouraged to use Re-useable Bags

Oahu, Hawaii - Effective July 1, 2015, businesses shall be prohibited from providing plastic checkout bags and non-recyclable paper bags to their customers at the point of sale for the purpose of transporting groceries or other merchandise. Nothing in the ordinance shall preclude a business from making available to customers, with or without charge, at the point of sale: 1) reusable bags, compostable plastic bags, or recyclable paper bags for the purpose of transporting groceries or other merchandise; or 2) non-recyclable paper bags to protect or transport prepared foods, beverages, or bakery goods.

(1 Jul 2015) More Smoking Rules

New Law Bans Smoking at Parks and Beaches

New Law Restricts Smoking of E-cigarettes

Honolulu 1 Jul 2015 - Smoking is now banned in all Hawai?i State Parks, as a new law – Act 123, SLH 2015 – went into effect as of July 1, 2015. The ban includes smoking, including electronic cigarettes, and all tobacco products in all state parks in Hawaii. It applies to all areas of the parks, including beaches, picnic and camping areas, trails and roadways.

Hawai?i’s State Park system is composed of 50 state parks encompassing approximately 30,000 acres on 5 major islands. These parks offer varied outdoor recreation and heritage opportunities. The park environments range from landscaped grounds with developed facilities to wildland areas with trails.

Violators may be cited. Penalties for violation of the new law are $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense and $500 for subsequent offenses.
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Another NEW HAWAII E-CIGARETTE SMOKING LAW - Smokers in Hawaii soon will no longer be allowed to use e-cigarettes in workplaces and other public places where traditional cigarette and tobacco smoking is already illegal under a bill signed into law Friday by Gov. David Ige.

House Bill 940, or Act 19, upholds the smoke-free workplace and public places law enacted in 2006, which designated smoke-free areas around the state. It takes effect on Jan. 1, 2016. Hawaii is now the fourth state in the country to pass such legislation, after North Dakota, New Jersey, and Utah.

“These products currently are not regulated and many of the hazardous components in cigarettes are also found in e-cigarette emissions,” said Hawaii Director of Health Dr. Virginia Pressler. “

(17 May 2015) Military MV-22 Osprey Crashes at Bellows AFB

Osprey Crash Site at Bellows AFB

Military MV-22 Osprey Aircraft

KAILUA, BELLOWS AFB, OAHU - Honolulu firefighters and emergency crews responded on Sunday to a downed military MV-22 Osprey aircraft that crashed at Bellows Air Force Station in Windward Oahu that killed two people and injured several others. A military doctor camping near the Osprey crash site was the first to provide aid.

According to the military, an MV-22 Osprey from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit experienced a "hard landing" while conducting training at the Marine Corps Training Area at Bellows. The aircraft had 22 people on board when it went down around 11:40 a.m. According to the military, one Marine died and 21 were transported to local hospitals for assessment and treatment. One of the injured died later. It is unknown what caused the aircraft to go down. One witness said that the Osprey's pilot may have hit the landing gear on a nearby fence line in the heavy dust cloud that was created during the landing.

Military officials on Monday released the identity of the Marines that died as 24-year-old Lance Cpl. Joshua E. Barron from Spokane, Washington and 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Matthew Determan from Maricopa, Arizona.

(6 May 2015) Police Raid Massage Parlors

NirVana Massage Parlor

Hokohama Massage Parlor

Honolulu - Honolulu police have arrested more than a dozen women at various massage parlors in Honolulu. It’s one of the biggest crackdowns in years and a huge victory for a neighborhood fed up with illegal activity. According to police records, the operation was conducted between April 30 and May 2. Sixteen women were arrested ranging in age from 24 to 60. It was an operation that all started because of complaints from the community.

“I feel safer and sure I feel that it’s a good thing that it happened. It’s always good to get crime off the street,” said Ron White who works on Keeaumoku St.

Police arrested women at establishments on Keeaumoku, Young, Kona, S. King, and Beretania streets, Kalakaua Avenue and Atkinson Drive. They were booked for sex assault and prostitution. This type of of sex assault is a misdemeanor, which could mean a year in jail for the women. However, it will be tough to convict the women since it requires a full jury trial. It will be more difficult because you have to go through the vagaries of the jury trial process.

HPD said that there are more than 100 illegal message palors in Honolulu. They would not confirm if this operation could continue with more arrests

Big Island of Hawaii - Molten lava, rocks and gas went flying through the air on Hawaii's Kilauea volcano after an explosion was caused by the partial collapse of a crater wall. The collapse triggered a small explosion, spreading lava and debris around the rim of Kilauea's Halemaumau Crater, the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says. Rocks overhanging the lava lake are altered by gases coming from the lava, Babb said. The rocks eventually give way and collapse into the lava, causing an explosion. The material was hurled about 280 feet skyward. There could be fallout of ash and dust from this type of event, but it's very unlikely that anyone could be injured. The visitor areas were closed. The last time molten lava was visible in the crater was in 1982, when a fissure erupted. The last time there was a lake and explosion similar to this one was in 1974.

(10 Apr 2015) Thirty Meter Telescope Protests

View of MaunaKea from the Ocean

Snow and Telescopes on top of Mauna Kea

Native Hawaiian Protester Block Road to Telescopes

What the 30 Meter Telescope will look like

Big Island of Hawaii - The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is being constructed on the top of Mauna Kea Mountain in Hawaii. This preferred location was eventually chosen for the project despite objections from Native Hawaiians, environmentalists and others. As of April 2015 its construction has been halted voluntarily due to protests about lack of indigenous peoples' consent, which began locally then spread globally.

The telescope is designed for observations from near-ultraviolet to mid-infrared (0.31 to 28 µm wavelengths). In addition, its adaptive optics system will help correct for image blur caused by the atmosphere of the Earth, helping it to reach the potential of such a large mirror. Amongst existing and planned extremely large telescopes, the TMT will have by far the highest altitude, and will be the second-largest telescope after the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) 34-foot (10.4-meter) telescope located on La Palma of Spain's Canary Islands.

The telescope was given approval by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources in April 2013 and construction of the telescope began on July 28, 2014. Dedication and ground-breaking ceremony was held, but interrupted by native Hawaiian protesters on October 7, 2014. The project has now become the focal point of escalating political conflict, protests, police arrests, and continuing litigation due to concerns over proper use of conservation (sacred) Hawaiian lands.

HONOLULU (AP) -- The Hawaii attorney general's office said Tuesday it will investigate Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi's use of his county-issued credit card, after he acknowledged using it to cover personal expenses that included nearly $900 at a hostess bar.

Kenoi, the top elected official of Hawaii's Big Island, apologized for using the card for personal use, including charging nearly $900 at the Club Evergreen hostess bar in Honolulu in 2013. Typically at hostess bars, women employees sit with patrons. Girl's drinks cost $20 and up for tea. Club Evergreen features a full bar, sushi bar, karaoke, and strippers. Kailua-Kona newspaper West Hawaii Today first reported the bar tab. The newspaper also reported that other personal expenses included a $1,200 surfboard and nearly $2,000 worth of bicycle equipment.

Kenoi, a married father of three who completed last year's Kona Ironman triathlon, has apologized for using the card inappropriately.

(31 Mar 2015) Traffic Nightmare

Zip Mobile

Zip Mobile

Island-wide Gridlock Traffic

Traffic Nightmare

The Island of Oahu - Total gridlock occurred again - The traffic nightmare began Tuesday morning after both ZipMobiles broke down, leaving the morning ZipperLane open. Officials said after the main ZipMobile broke down, they tried to fix it with parts from the back-up, but ended up knocking that one out of service too. This closed down two lanes on the very busy H-1 Freeway. It was taking drivers 6 hours to drive from downtown Honolulu to Mililani. I left work in Aiea at 12:30 and it took me over 2 hours to get home. To make things worse, the police were out in force giving tickets to motorist using their cell phone or driving in the shoulder lane. Instead of helping with the situation, they made it much worse.

(28 Feb 2015) Both Mililani High School Girls and Boys win State Soccer Championship

Mililani Girls Soccer

Mililani Boys Soccer

28 Feb 2015 MILILANI VS. KALANI
In a thrilling clash of top seeded teams, the Mililani Trojans outlasted the Kalani Falcons to win the 2015 HHSAA State Boys Soccer Division I Championship 1-0 at a packed Waipio Soccer Complex stadium on Saturday night. A raucous crowd watched as both squads engaged in pitched battle from start to finish, with Trojan center forward Jarad Choquette’s electrifying early goal serving as the championship-winning act.

21 Feb 2015 MILILANI VS. IOLANI
Kasey Isobe’s near half-field bomb goal in the second overtime period secured the 2015 HHSAA Girls Soccer Division I State Championship for her Mililani Trojans over the Iolani Raiders 1-0 at Waipio Soccer Complex stadium on Saturday night, 2.21.15. The Trojans and Raiders engaged in a highly intense title game that was a hard fought defensive battle throughout. Mililani upset and eliminated reigning ILH titleholders and tournament top seed Punahou in the quarterfinals en route to their appearance in the final

(16 Jan 2015) PGA golfer Robert Allenby is beaten and robbed

Pro Golfer Robert Allenby

Mug shot after beating

Allenby with family

HONOLULU – Honolulu police are investigating an alleged robbery and beating involving PGA golfer Robert Allenby, who played in this weekend’s Sony Open at the Waialae Country Club. Allenby said he’s lucky to be alive. The Golf Channel showed a picture of Allenby with scrapes on his face. In text messages with the Australian Associated Press, the 43-year-old said on Friday night he was drinking at the Amuse Wine Bar on the corner of Piikoi Street and Kapiolani Blvd. He said he left there about 10PM and believes he was drugged, then taken to an underground parking garage, where he was robbed and thrown into the trunk of a car. Allenby said he was then left in a park more than six miles away, where a homeless woman woke him up, and a retired military man paid for him to get back to the Kahala Hotel & Resort where he is staying. He reported missing a large amount of cash, a Florida driver’s license and his cellphone.

The homeless woman (Charade Keane) who helped Allenby has come forward to add more confusion to the Robert Allenby saga, claiming she discovered the Australian golfer only one block away from the bar (at about 1AM) where he says he was abducted - not 6 milies away as he said immediately after the ordeal. She said that she stumbled across Allenby just a block from the Amuse Wine Bar, saying he was 'bloodied and confused' and was arguing with two homeless men. Allenby asked her if he could use his one remaining credit card to get out $500 so he could pay the two men, who he claimed were involved in the robbery, to get his wallet back. When these men became more aggressive, she helped Allenby run away down the street - the two men followed them. About this time, a former soldier came on the scene to help them. This man paid for a taxi to take Allenby back to his hotel.

I beleive the homeless woman's version. He probably got drunk and picked up a girl who took him to the parking lot or some other location where he was beaten and robbed. He then wandered down the street to where the two homeless men decided to beat and rob him but he had no money - only one credit card. There are about 3 missing hours that Allenby cannot account for before the homeless lady and the military man came to his aid.

UPDATE: A Star-Advertiser reporter found the two homeless men that Allenby was talking to before the homeless lady helped him get back to his hotel. They said Allenby was so drunk that he fell on his face four times while there. They said Allenby told them that he lost his wallet and money at a strip club and didn't know how he got to where he was now. The men said that they didn't rob Allenby but would take the $500 he was offering.

Robert Allenby's story has been proven to be a lie. It was a bad night for Robert Allenby!!

(13 Dec 2014) Local Boy Marcus Mariata is the Heisman Trophy winner

NEW YORK CITY – Marcus Mariota, the prototypical 21st century quarterback, took an old-fashioned approach to become Oregon's first Heisman Trophy winner.
The Ducks' understated star won the Heisman on Saturday night going away, capping a three-year climb to college football's most prestigious individual award.
Mariota received twice as many points as second-place finisher Melvin Gordon, the record-breaking running back from Wisconsin. The other finalist, Alabama receiver Amari Cooper, was third. Mariota received the second-highest percentage of possible points (90.92) in Heisman history, behind only Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, who had 91.63 in 2006. A pinpoint passer with wide-receiver speed, Mariota came into his junior season as the favorite to win the 80th Heisman and delivered a performance that turned the presentation ceremony at a theater in Times Square into a foregone conclusion.

The first Hawaii native to win the Heisman has accounted for a Pac-12-record 53 touchdowns (38 passing, 14 rushing and one receiving) while directing the Ducks' warp-speed spread offense. He also led Oregon to a spot in the first College Football Playoff. It will be a matchup of Heisman-winning quarterbacks in the Rose Bowl semifinal Jan. 1 with Mariota and the second-seeded Ducks facing Florida State and Jameis Winston.

(10 Dec 2014) The Healthiest State in America is ??

The 2014 Healthiest State in America is Hawaii

2. Vermont

3. Massachusetts

4. Connecticut

5. Utah

1. Hawaii
The Aloha state scored the top spot in the rankings this year, with low prevalences of obesity and preventable hospitals, and a low rate of cancer deaths.

2. Vermont
Vermont’s strengths include a low violent crime and child poverty rates, and high rates of high school graduation.

3. Massachusetts
Massachusetts’s strengths include a low percentage of people without health insurance, low infant mortality and ready availability of primary care doctors.

4. Connecticut
Connecticut’s strengths include a low prevalence of smoking, high child immunization coverage and a low rate of workplace-related deaths.

5. Utah
Utah’s strengths include a low prevalence of smoking, a low rate of preventable hospitalizations and low percentage of children in poverty

(21 Nov 2014) Mililani dethrones Punahou, 53-45, to win first state football championship

Mililani Fans

#81 Reveiver Kalakaua Timoteo

#9 Reveiver Kalnoa Wilson

#7 Reveiver Bronson Ramos

#19 Running Back Vavae Malepeai

Head Coach Rod York

#13 Quarterback McKenzie Milton

Defensive stars #50 Rex Manu and #79 Jordan Agasiva

Aloha Stadium (Friday 21 Nov 2014 - The much-anticipated game (#1 undefeated and nationally ranked Punahou vs #2 undefeated Mililani) of the season lived up to all its hype.

In the highest-scoring game in Hawaii state football tournament history, No. 2 Mililani held off No. 1 Punahou, 53-45, Friday night to capture its first Division I crown before 19,254 at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium. The Trojans (13-0) became the 19th Oahu team to finish unbeaten and untied, denying Punahou (8-1) successive unblemished seasons.

Ty Purcell-Apana stripped Punahou running back Wayne Taulapapa of the ball at about the 4-yard line after a 13-yard gain, the ball rolling out of the end zone for a touchback with 56 seconds left in the game to preserve the Trojans' lead. Mililani was able to run out the clock on fourth-and-26 at its own 4. "I was going for the strip," Purcell-Apana said. "I saw Tielu (Mamea) wrap him up and saw him falling down slowly so I saw the ball falling out little bit and I stripped it."

After low-scoring semifinals a week earlier - Punahou edged Kahuku, 13-10, and Mililani beat Farrington, 17-14 - the Trojans and Buffanblu set tournament scoring records for most combined points, beat the previous high of 89 set in the 2010 semifinals when Waianae beat Mililani, 48-41.

Mililani led 26-7 after the first quarter. The 33 points was the most scored in the first quarter (29 in 2000 quarterfinals between Kahuku and Waimea). The 77 points by the half obliterated the 2001 quarterfinals between Kahuku and Lahainaluna, which combined for 50. Yet after all the offensive fireworks in the first half, it was defense that made the difference. "It's a team effort," Mililani coach Rod York said. "As the saying goes, 'Offense puts butts in the seats, defense wins the championships. Guys were dropping down, guys were coming in stepping up. We were playing guys who hadn't played all year. Credit our kids and their hearts."

The teams combined for a staggering 1,214 yards of offense. Punahou amassed 630 to Mililani's 584. Mililani QB McKenzie Milton completed 29 of 47 passes for 421 yards and seven touchdowns, one shy of the tournament record set by Saint Louis' Timmy Chang in the 1999 quarterfinals against Waianae. Punahou QB Tuliloa completed 17 off 33 passes for 285 yards and two TD. Punahou RB Taulapapa had 260 yards rushing, including three TDs. Mililani receiver Kalakaua Timoteo had seven receptions for 117 yards and four TDs, tying record held by Saint Louis' Desmond Hanohano in the 2003 quarterfinals.

Neither coach expected a shootout. "I didn't know what to think," York said. "I thought we'd score 80 against Kahuku, 80 against Farrington and we barely scored 10."
"I thought it'd be about 35-28 or something like that," Punahou coach Kale Ane said. "But it was 40-something in the first half." It was an amazing season for the Trojans, who opened the season beating Saint Louis, 63-47, and closed it with their fourth 50-plus points game. "It's just about getting better everyday and beat whoever you have to play," York said. "Fortunately for us, it worked out in our favor."

The Trojans had a scare in the third quarter, when their top running back Vavae Malepeai left the game with a knee injury. He finished the game with 89 yards on 13 carries. His replacement, Cheyne Constantino, filled the void with 41 yards on nine carries. "My knee twisted," Malepeai said. "I don't know. I can walk. I'm thankful it's not any worse than it is. I have a lot of time to heal up."

Mililani, as it had most of the season, stormed out to a 26-7 lead after the first quarter on three Milton TD passes and Purcell-Apana's interception return. Punahou's only response, when it tied the game at 7, was on Tuliloa's 48-yard TD pass to Kalai Santos. Punahou outscored Mililani, 24-20, in the second quarter, yet still trailed by 15 at the half. The Buffanblu even outscored the Trojans in the second half, 14-7. But Mililani stopped Punahou's last three series of the game to hold on.

Earlier, in division II, ‘Iolani captured their 8th Koa Trophy by topping top-seeded Lahainaluna 31-14. The loss marks the third for the Lunas to the Raiders in the state championship game. ‘Iolani has now won 8 of the last 11 Koa Trophies in division II.

HONOLULU - The iconic Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant building in Honolulu, which stood along Ala Moana Boulevard for nearly seven decades, was demolished on Thursday, 20 Nov 2014, to make way for a redevelopment of the property.

I can remember going to Fisherman's Wharf Bar (bottom right side of building) on several occasions. It was a little sleazy but I enjoyed the atmosphere. I'm sorry to see all these great restaurants on Oahu being tore down.

(4 Nov 2014) David Ige is elected Governor

David Ige

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Democratic candidate David Ige has been elected as the next governor of Hawaii, defeating Republican candidate James "Duke" Aiona and Independent candidate Mufi Hannemann. With 247 precincts reporting, Ige held a 12-percentage point lead over Aiona when the fourth results printout was released late Tuesday evening.

Ige's 181,065 votes totaled 49 percent of the votes collected so far, compared to 135,742 votes for Aiona. Mufi Hannemann, who ran as an independent, had received 42,925 votes.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - University of Hawaii Athletics Director Ben Jay announced Tuesday that UH Men's Basketball Head Coach Gib Arnold and Assistant Coach Brandyn Akana have been relieved of coaching duty and are departing employment from the University of Hawaii.

During a 30-minute press conference in Manoa, interim head coach Benjy Taylor dropped a bomb saying, if the season were to start today, the team would be without forward Isaac Fotu who is probably Hawaii's best player. According to Taylor, while Totu has been allowed to practice, he is not eligible to play in Hawaii's season opener and is in the process of appealing his ineligibility. Totu recently played on New Zealand's national team.

The punishment surrounds a sequence of events that stretches back to the middle of last season when the team self-reported a potential recruiting violation involving a player transferring to UH. In March, the NCAA came down to Manoa to conduct its investigation, which involved multiple interviews with the coaching staff along with former and current players.

(26 Oct 2014) Kilauea Lava Flow Reaches Pahoa

kilauea Volcano Vent

The Town of Pahoa

Apa's Street near Cemetery Road

The Island of Hawaii (26 Oct 2014) The lava flow from Kilauea Volcano that began June 27 is seen as it crossed Apa’a Street near Cemetery Road near the town of Pahoa on the Big Island of Hawaii. Hawaii authorities on Saturday told several dozen residents near the active lava flow to prepare for a possible evacuation in the next three to five days as molten rock oozed across the country road and edged closer to homes. By Saturday afternoon (25 Oct 2014), the lava flow had crossed and moved into the Pahoa cemetery grounds.The flow is currently about 160 to 230 feet (50 to 70 meters) wide and moving northeast at about 10 yards (nine meters) per hour. It’s currently about six-tenths of a mile (one kilometer) from Pahoa Village Road, the town’s main street.

Work began today in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on restoring an eight-mile section of historic Chain of Craters Road. The road once connected the park with the easternmost tip of Hawaii Island before being overtaken by lava in the late 1980s. The emergency access route will follow the original path of Chain of Craters Road along the Puna coastline. Click here for a full list of closures in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park due to construction.

Kilauea eruptions in the area have been continuous since 1983. According to USGS statistics, lava from the three-decade plus eruption has already destroyed 189 structures and claimed eight miles of highway.

This June 27th flow advanced north then northeastward at an average rate of 400 meters per day (0.25 miles per day). In this way, the flow had advanced approximately 25 km (15.0 miles straight-line distance) from the Kilauea vent on its way to Pahoa.

After menacing Hawaii for days, the closest Hurricane Ana got to Hawaii was about 70 miles southwest of the island Niihau, leaving the state soaked but largely unscathed. All islands rode out the storm with no reports of any serious problems.

The hurricane was more than a hundred miles from Oahu so there was not much wind but lots of rain.
It rained steady for more than 24 hours at my house. I had to let water out of my pool twice so I know that we had at least 10 inches of rain.

(22 Aug 2014) Makakilo Brush Fire

Brush Fire Near Makakilo

Fire Threatens Homes

MAKAKILO, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Honolulu Fire officials tell Hawaii News Now that two young boys playing with lighters caused a large brush fire in Makakilo. Officials say the two 7-year-old boys are brothers.

"We are here to say we regret what has happened. Our children realize the consequences of their actions. We want parents to realize this can happen to anyone and how important it is discuss fire safety with their children. We will be participating in a fire safety program," said Troy Wright, the boys' father.

More than 60 firefighters are currently fighting the flames on the ground and four choppers are in the air. Twenty homes on Palehua Ridge are still in danger as of Sunday. The homes on the ridge are surrounded by tall trees making it very dangerous and difficult to protect. Firefighters spent Friday night staged at each house and other assets like phone towers in the area. Fire officials say the current problem is that the fire is very inaccessible.
"This fire is rather difficult. It's on steep, rough terrain. The wind has been gusting up to 20 to 30 mph. There's are some inaccessible areas where the firefighters are unable to get to," said Capt. David Jenkins with the Honolulu Fire Department.

(9 Aug 2014) BLOWOUT - Neil Abercrombie loses to David Ige

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - For the first time in Hawaii history, a sitting governor has lost a primary election to a challenger from within their own party.

By 9:45 p.m., the Neil Abercrombie banner was coming down and the cleanup crew was hard at work packing up the campaign party at Ward Warehouse. The incumbent lost by more than 37 percent of the vote by the third printout. In his concession speech, he said despite his shortcomings, he always gave it his best.

"Faith and trust has been placed in me, and I've tried to honor that faith and trust. Whatever shortcomings I have, whatever faults I have, I can guarantee you one has never been a failure to give all I can every day I can for Hawaii," said Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

In his first term as Governor, he made a lot of tough decisions and in the process upset quite a few groups including the religious right, teachers, nurses, elderly, and everybody with a pension.

At 76 years old, his future career remains unclear. He says he will take some time to reflect on his past 40 years of public service.

Ige and Shan Tsutsui will run together in high-profile general election that will feature former lieutenant governor Duke Aiona and Elwin Ehu on the Republican ticket, as well as Mufi Hannemann and Les Chang as Independents.

(8 Aug 2014) Tropical Storm Iselle Hits Big Island

Iselle made landfall at 2:30 a.m. HST on Friday, Aug. 8 about five miles east of Pahala, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. The only other tropical storm on record dating to 1950 to come in from the east and hit the Big Island was in 1958, with peak sustained winds of 50 mph. Overall, Iselle is a rare -- if not historical -- tropical cyclone.

There have already been reports of structural damage, trees downed, power outages, and some flooding. Roofs were reportedly removed from homes just southeast of Hilo late Thursday night. As of Friday morning, parts of the Big Island had already picked up over eleven inches of rain.

Some outer rainbands have also affected parts of Maui County. Twelve-inch diameter tree branches were broken and Piiholo Road was closed by downed trees and powerlines in Makawao. Streets were flooded by 3-4 inches of water, there, as well. Winds have gusted as high as 60 mph on the island of Kaho'Olawe.

Oahu only got rain and 30-40 mph winds - no major damage.

At this posting, Hurricane Julio was passing the Hawaiian Islands well to the North.

(5 Aug 2014) Double Trouble Heading Our Way

Hurricanes Iselle and Julio

If the storms continue on their forecast tracks, they will bring heavy rain and strong winds to the islands as they move over the state, beginning Thursday through early Saturday (7-9 August) with Iselle, and Julio arriving about two or three days later.

(22 Jun 2014) Michelle Wie Wins the 2014 U.S. Open

Michelle with the US Open trophy

Michelle hitting to the 18th hole

Pinehurst, NC - After nearly a decade on the LPGA tour, Michelle Wie has finally won the first major tournament of her career. The Punahou grad finished -2 over the weekend to become the champion of the 69th U.S. Women's Open Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina. The 24-year-old entered the day tied for the lead with Amy Yang and used consistent play to hold on to the lead. Wie made par on eight of her nine holes and then got a boost from an eagle on the 10th.

(26 May 2014) Honolulu Lantern Floating Ceremony

The Crowd at Magic Island

6,000 Candle-lit Lanterns

A Message for a Loved One

Honolulu - Approximately 6,000 candle-lit lanterns were set afloat from Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park to honor ancestors and loved ones who have passed away, or as symbolic prayer for a harmonious and peaceful future. Themed "Many Rivers, One Ocean," the annual Lantern Floating Hawaii ceremony gathers those of all backgrounds to offer a collective experience of warmth, compassion and understanding. The subtheme for the 2014 ceremony was "Friendship." This Memorial Day, about 40,000 people came for the Lantern Floating Ceremony.

(23 May 2014) Hawaii minimum wage increase signed into law

Honolulu - "Done!" Governor Neil Abercrombie exclaimed as he signed bill 2609 into law Friday morning. With his stroke of the pen, the minimum wage in Hawaii will increase from its current rate of $7.25/hour up to $10.10/hour on January 1, 2018.

(20 May 2014) Queens Medical Center West Oahu Opens

Ewa - The Queen's Medical Center West Oahu opens its doors to patients and the public at 8 a.m. Tuesday, 20 May 2014, following a $50 million renovation to upgrade and modernize the only acute-care hospital in Leeward Oahu.

The hospital has an emergency room and 80 patient beds, though it can be expanded in the future to 135 beds, and employs about 400 full- and part-time workers, including 60 physicians.

The Queen's Health Systems purchased the former Hawaii Medical Center West from St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii for more than $20 million in a deal that closed in December 2012, a year after the Ewa hospital shut down operations. During this period there was no hospital serving West Oahu - the closest hospital was Pali Momi in Aiea.

(17 May 2014) Hokulea and her sister canoe Hikianalia leave for a three-year voyage around the world

The Hokulea Leaves Honolulu

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -
Hokule'a and her sister escort canoe, Hikianalia, embarked on "Malama Honua," which means to care for our Earth, on 17 May. Their journey will cover a total of 47,000 nautical miles with stops at 85 ports in 26 different countries. Their mission is to create global relationships and explore best practices for caring for our oceans and planet.

The first leg is from Hawai'i to Tahiti, as Hokule'a retraces its 1976 sail to Pape'ete. That maiden voyage was crucial to the resurgence of traditional navigation practices, as Hawaiian voyagers proved to the world our ancestors intended to settle in the islands and didn't drift here by accident.

The voyagers will be navigating without modern instruments. Instead they'll strictly use the stars, ocean current, winds, and birds as mapping points for direction.

There are more than 300 crew members (29 at a time) from all over the state who will be sailing on Hokule'a. They all come from within the 'Ohana Wa'a, which comprises of several other voyaging canoes -- Makali'i, Hokualaka'i, Mo'okiha, Namahoe and Hawai'i Loa.

Visit this website to learn more about daily life on the Hokulea - http://pvs.kcc.hawaii.edu/ike/canoe_living/daily_life.html

(9 May 2014) Mililani High School Girl's Softball Team win the State Championship

The star pitcher Aubree Kim

The hit by Jade Yadao-Valdez

The run by Keri Togami

The team cerebration

Universtiy of Hawaii Software Field (MANOA) —

One bounce of the ball was all Mililani needed.

Keri Togami scored the game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning when Jade Yadao-Valdez reached on an error to help Mililani walk off with a thrilling 2-1 win over Campbell in the title game of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I Softball State Championships Friday night.

A crowd of about 2,000 at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium witnessed a pitchers' duel between the Trojans' Aubree Kim and the Sabers' Elisa Favela. Kim, who was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, battled fatigue and control issues, but got just enough offensive support.

(1 May 2014) Little Fire Ants Found on Maui

Little Fire Ants

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -
Maui County officials said they are working with the state Department of Agriculture to alert residents to an infestation of Little Fire Ants.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa said that the department originally believed the ant arrived on the Valley Isle in December, but further investigation revealed that the ants may have been coming over on interisland shipments for the past year. The alert was issued on the same day that the Maui Invasive Species Committee released a new half-hour documentary video, talking about the spread of the little fire ant.

According to the experts, new colonies of the stinging ant can be spread very easily. "That can happen just with one queen and two workers. So a new colony can fit in a mac nut shell, or in your car," said Maui Invasive Species Committee manager Teya Penniman. The ants on Maui hitched a ride on Big Island hapu'u, or Hawaiian tree ferns, that had been shipped to Lowe's and Home Depot, according to the mayor's office.

"We need to help the Department of Agriculture to identify possible infestation sites so that they can contain the situation," said Arakawa. "We don't want another invasive species on our island if we can help it." Experts say there's a chance the tiny ant got into other plants in garden shops statewide, without buyers knowing it. "And so we're asking the public if they've made recent garden purchases, to inspect the plants and see if they have any instances of unexplained insect bites that have hurt really bad," said Julia Parish of the Oahu Invasive Species Committee.

The ants have been on the Big Island for more than a decade. They also were found on Kauai in 1998, where it had been thought that were eradicated. But then they made a resurgence. right now, they're contained to a 13-acre area on the Garden Isle. "They can live their whole lives only in the trees without coming down," said Keren Gundersen of the Kauai Invasive Species Committee. "So they only treated on the ground, and they had no way to address the trees." Having the tiny stinging creatures in the trees is affecting agriculture, especially at harvest time, when trees are moved or shaken. "The ants aren't very good at hanging on, and so if agriculture workers are trying to harvest lychee or coffee, the ants essentially rain down on them," said Penniman.

They could also have an effect on tourist, or even the daily quality of life. "Here we are at Magic Island," said Penniman. "Imagine if you have tourists walking around here, and its a windy day, and the ants are falling on them." The ants also are known to cause blindness in pets, because they have stung cats and dogs in their eyes.

Experts said the best way to detect the little fire ant is to apply peanut butter to a chopstick, and then push the stick into a tree fern or the ground nearby. If you see ants on a chopstick, place the chopstick in a plastic bag and then put the bag in your freezer. Then call the Agriculture Department's pest line at 643-PEST (or your island's Ag Department office)

(19 Apr 2014) Michelle Wie wins the LPGA LOTTE Championship

Wie wins at Ko Olina Golf Course in Hawaii

Ko Olina Golf Course -
After nearly a four-year winless streak, Michelle Wie wrote her own fairytale finish to a magical week in her home state of Hawaii by clinching the LPGA LOTTE Championship Presented by J Golf. The Honolulu native said she could not have dreamed up a better ending to the tournament she calls her hometown event. Wie shot a 5-under 67 in Saturday’s final round to beat third round leader Angela Stanford by 2 strokes.

(18 Mar 2014) Mesa Air to shut down go!

Go! Airlines to shutdown on 1 April 2014

Honolulu -
Mesa Air Group has decided to shut down the interisland airline go! effective April 1.

Mesa Air came forward as a potential buyer during the bankruptcies of both Hawaiian Airlines and Aloha Airlines. But rather than buy either carrier, Mesa founded go!, launching service on June 9, 2006 from Honolulu to Hilo, Kona, Kahului and Lihue.

The upstart carrier harbored high hopes to compete with Hawaiian Airlines on interisland routes, but as of last year had just 6.8 percent of the market compared with Hawaiian's 85.2 percent share.

(5 Mar 2014) Honolulu has the Second Worst Traffic in the Nation

H1 Freeway in Honolulu

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - (This is no surprise to Oahu drivers)
Honolulu has taken the No. 2 spot for the most traffic-jammed cities in the U.S. in 2013, falling right behind Los Angeles, according to a new scorecard from INRIX, a traffic information and driver services company.

The INRIX annual scorecard reported Honolulu drivers spend an average of nearly 60 hours a year sitting in their cars, up 10 hours from the 2012 scorecard. Commuters experienced a 30 percent increase in travel time due to bad traffic conditions, according to the company's website. For example, a 30-minute drive to the USS Arizona Memorial would take an extra 10 minutes, and an hour-long bus ride to Waikiki would take 80 minutes.

Other top congested cities include San Francisco #3, New York #4, and Seattle #5.

(26 Feb 2014) Lanai Air Plane Crash

Lanai Air Crash Kills 3 People

Lanai City - Three people are dead and three others were injured after a Maui County chartered plane crashed on Lanai Wednesday night. The incident happened just before 9:30 p.m. about one mile off the airport.

North Shore, Oahu - Some of the biggest waves ever to hit Oahu rolled into the North Shore on Wednesday, 22 Jan 2014.
Haleiwa, Oahu - Large waves flooded the Haleiwa Boat Harbor and went over Kam Highway in several locations.
Waianae, Oahu - 50+ mph winds blew roofs off, downed trees and telephone poles in Leeward Oahu.
Leilehua Golf Course, Central Oahu - Golfer was killed after a large limb blew off of a tree and hit him.
Mililani, Oahu - The Temperature Gauge at my house said it was 57 degrees - not counting the wind-chill factor. It was cold.

(16 Jan 2014) Huge North Shore Waves Threaten Beach Front Homes

Waves like this are hitting North Shore

Back yard and Lani already in the ocean

Hundreds of homes are at risk!

Is Hawaii Government at fault?

Rocky Point, North Shore, Oahu - Residents of Rocky Point (near Sunset Beach) on Oahu’s North Shore are scrambling to save their homes as 25-foot tall waves crashed offshore, sending frothy sea water to claw at their lanais, expose concrete foundations and threaten to pull entire houses into the sea. Amid forecasts that another round of high surf may strike this weekend, at least seven homes teeter on the edge of 20-foot drops. The damage exposes Oahu’s long-term inability to adequately regulate construction on its shores. Hundreds of homes, businesses and pieces of island infrastructure have been built too close to the ocean.

A Makani Kai Air Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft crashed in waters a half mile off of the north shore of Molokai at 3:15PM on Wednesday. Maui Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard quickly got to the scene. State Health Director Loretta Fuddy died at the scene. She is best known as the person who approved the release of President Obama’s birth certificate. The other eight people on board who got out of the plane were rescued. The pilot said, "A catastrophic engine failure caused the crash."

(11 Dec 2013) Healthiest State Rankings: Hawaii Tops 2013 List

Hawaii People

Where you live could say a lot about your health habits -- and a new ranking reveals which states have it the best and worst.

On a whole, Americans are adopting healthier behaviors, such as stopping smoking and increasing physical activity, according to the report, published by the United Health Foundation, American Public Health Association and the Partnership for Prevention.

The report also shows that the percentage of smokers has dropped to 19.6 percent in the U.S. from 21.2 percent in the last year. And physical inactivity has dropped on a whole to 22.9 percent in the last year, down from 26.2 percent.

Note: Hawaii also ranked first in the healthiest state ranking last year.

(13 Nov 2013) Same Sex Marriage becomes legal in Hawaii

Gays and Lesbians Cerebrate

Gov. Neil Abercrombie

Honolulu - Hawaii’s governor signs the bill into law making same-sex marriage legal in one of the first states where gays and lesbians couples sought the right to wed more than 20 years ago. The Hawaiian legislature had approved same-sex marriage bill. Weddings can begin Dec. 2 in the Aloha state, which is the 15th to grant same-sex marriage. Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who supported the right of gays and lesbians to wed, had called the legislature into a special session to vote on the issue.

(1 Nov 2013) Mililani High School Football Team Wins the OIA Red championship

McKenzie Milton

Vavae Malepeai

Mililani "Super Sophomores" Quarterback McKenzie Milton and Running Back Vavae Malepeai along with a very strong defense helped power the Trojans to a dominant 37-6 win over Farrington High School in the OIA Red final on Friday at Aloha Stadium, sending the Trojans to their second title in the past four years. Unlike its previous OIA Red championship when Kahuku had to forfeit, Mililani could savor its latest league title with an on-field celebration.
State Championship Results - Punahou beats Mililani 28-22 in the Division I game. Kaiser beats Kauai 17-7 in the Division II game.

(1 Oct 2013) US GovernmentShutdown

US National Parks Closed

Pearl Harbor Commissary

Haleakala Park Closed

HAWAII — The Government SHUTDOWN affects Hawaii more than any other state except for Virginia and Maryland (Washington DC Area).

Pearl Harbor and other Military Bases - It's less than 24 hours old, but frustration is mounting over the federal government shutdown. "Congress is acting irrationally right now and it's the government workers who are paying for it. We've already been through pay freezes, furloughs, reductions of force and now we have to go through this shutdown," said Jamie Hiranaka, president of the Professional and Technical Engineers. More than 25,000 federal workers are affected by the shutdown, which will mean the closure of the Pearl Harbor Shipyard, Hawaii's National Parks and the state's four military commissaries, where consumers braved long lines and picked through empty shelves today.

National Parks are closed - The two biggest tourist attractions on Hawai'i Island and Maui are closed, along with 399 other national parks, as a result of the partial federal government shutdown. Officials say on Hawai'i Island, as many as 7,000 visitors a day will be turned away from the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Pu'uhonua o Honaunau and Pu'ukohola Heiau. One couple visiting from Romania drove more than two hours from Kona to the Volcanoes National Park only to be turned around by park rangers. The USS Arizona and other major tourist attractions are closed.

Hawaii Small Businesses - Hundreds of small businesses that depend on Government activities are also closed and had to layoff most of their employees.

(10 Sep 2013) Molasses Spill Disaster

HONOLULU — Fish and other marine life are suffocating to death in the water after 1,400 tons of molasses spilled into the Honolulu harbor. Thousands of fish are expected to die in Honolulu waters after a leaky pipe caused 1,400 tons of molasses to ooze into the harbor and kill marine life, state officials said. Hundreds of fish have been collected so far, the state Department of Health said in a statement Wednesday. The fish are dying because the high concentration of molasses is making it difficult for them to breathe. Television footage shows some fish sticking their mouths out of the water. The ocean department has warned people to stay out of the area because the dead fish could attract sharks and other predators like barracuda. The brown, sugary substance spilled Monday from a pipe used to load molasses from storage tanks to ships sailing to California. The shipping company, Matson Navigation Co., repaired the hole and the pipe stopped leaking Tuesday morning.

Follow on information - In addition to killing about 60,000 fish, this spill also killed much of the Coral Reff in Honolulu Harbor. The good news is - the molasses is dissipating.

(14 Aug 2013) Shark Attack on Maui

Maui, Hawaii - The female victim, an 20-year-old woman visiting from Germany, was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center in critical condition; her right arm was severed. She was helped to shore by two male friends who were nearby in the water, and a kayaker. The water was choppy with limited visibility at the time of the attack that occurred at approximately 4:41 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, about 50 yards offshore at Palauaea Beach, also known as "White Rock."
Beaches have been closed for one mile in each direction of Palauea Beach, from Makena Beach Resort to Mana Kai Resort. Officials will search the area at 5:30 a.m. Thursday to make a determination on the possible reopening of beaches. The area will remain closed for a minimum of 24 hrs. according to shark attack protocols; the public is asked to adhere to all warnings and beach closures.

This is the fifth shark bite in Maui waters this year. There has been a total of eight shark incidents this year - one on the big island, one on Kauai, and one on Oahu. There were a total of 11 shark attacks during 2012. All of these incidents involve 8 to 12 foot long Tiger Sharks. So far, nobody has died.

NOTE: There has been another shark attack. A 16-year-old surfer is recovering and in stable condition on Monday after being bitten by a shark in waters off Puna on the Big Island Sunday (18 Aug 2013) afternoon.

KAHULUI, MAUI - A German woman who lost her arm in a shark attack at a Maui beach last week, has died, according to officials at the Maui Memorial Medical Center. The 20-year-old tourist, previously identified as Jana Lutteropp, was snorkeling off Palauea Beach last Wednesday, August 14, when the attack happened. She remained in the hospital for one week on life support. This was the first shark attack death since 2004.

(29 Jul 2013) Tropical Storm Flossie Hits Hawaii

Flossie Hits Maui and Molokai

Hawaii - Tropical Storm Flossie was forecast to hit the big island of Hawaii but turned North at the last moment hitting Maui. The worst of what is now Tropical Depression Flossie has now passed through the state, bringing thunderstorms and dangerously high surf but sparing most islands from serious storm related damage. Power was out for several hours for 10,000 residents across Maui. The entire island of Molokai was without electricity for about an hour Monday evening. Residents across the state reported seeing thunder and lightning across the night skies. Flossie fizzled out before hitting Oahu and there was very little rain and wind in Honolulu and Mililani.

(8 Jul 2013) Christopher Deedy murder trial Starts

Chris Deedy and Lawyer Brook Hart

Kollin Elderts

Honolulu - Kollin Elderts and five other friends were partying hours before Elderts was fatally shot during a scuffle inside a Waikiki McDonald's on Kuhio Avenue around 2:30 a.m. on 5 Nov 2011. U.S. State Department special agent Christopher Deedy, 29, is charged with second-degree murder. Deedy was also out drinking before getting into the altercation with Elderts. Deedy was in Hawaii to provide security for the APEC summit and was carrying a gun.

The Defense Department plans to furlough some 680,000 federal civilian employees (out of about 800,000) for 11 days by the end of September as the result of sequester-related budget cuts. There are more than 19,000 DoD federal civilian employees working in Hawaii - about 15,000 of these people will be furloughed - Pearl Harbor shipyard workers were exempted. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel outlined the plan last week in a department-wide memo, adding that “I deeply regret this decision.” Furloughs will start the week of July 8 and run one day a week until the end of September, Hagel said in the memo.

(1 Jul 20113) All University of Hawaii Men's Athletic Teams will be called Rainbow Warriors

UH Football

UH Volleyball

Honolulu - Effective 1 Jul 2013, University of Hawaii athletic director, Ben Jay, announced that all men's athletic teams will be called the Rainbow Warriors. Since 2000, some had been named Rainbows (the baseball team), some Warriors (the football team) and some Rainbow Warriors (the volleyball team). The women's teams will remain Rainbow Wahine.

(14 Jun 20113) Hawaii is Hotbed for Spys

Benjamin Bishop

MAJ Seivarak Inson

Edward Snowden

Hawaii has become "HOTBED" for Spys and National Security Secret Leakers
Edward Joseph Snowden, 30, is a former technical contractor and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employee who lived in Hawaii and worked as a National Security Agency contractor for Booz Allen Hamilton, was revealed this week by the Guardian newspaper as the individual who exposed Top Secret NSA surveillance programs.

Benjamin Bishop, 59, a defense contractor for U.S. Pacific Command at Camp Smith, Hawaii, gave his 27-year-old Chinese girlfriend classified information about war plans and nuclear weapons.

MAJ Seivarak Inson an Army officer who worked for U.S. Pacific Command is on trial in Hawaii, accused of illegally possessing and passing classified Top Secret national defense information (concerning intelligence assessments of Cambodia) to an unathorized person.

(24 Feb 20113) Snowboarding on Mauna Kea

Top of Mauna Kea Mountain

Snowboarding

Big Island of Hawaii - During the period 23-24 Feb 2013, it snowed about 6 inches on the summit of Mauna Kea (13,796 feet high). Due to the strong winds (up to 70 mph) and blowing snow, the only road to the top was closed. During this storm, the temp was about 20 degrees on the mountain. Down below at sea level, the temp was about 80 degrees. The road opened on Monday, 25 Feb and hundreds of people drove up to the top to see the snow. Some of them enjoyed a snowball fight or did a little snowboarding.

(17 Jan 20113) Manti Te'o Girlfriend Hoax

Teo and Fake GirlfriendReal Name is Diane O'Meara

Manti Te’o’s Dead Girlfriend, The Most Heartbreaking And Inspirational Story Of The College Football Season, Is A Hoax!!
Manti Te'o's story of losing his grandmother and girlfriend within a few hours of each other has now been pretty much established as a hoax. But whether the Notre Dame football star was victim or perpetrator, the US media was complicit. Since the sports website Deadspin revealed that Teo's girlfriend never existed outside a fake online persona, news organizations have been scrambling to deal with the questions over their own reporting. The Boston Globe, Associated Press and the New York Times and CBS were among the many news outlets that recounted the tragedy-that-wasn't. Certainly the romance of Te'o, 21, and "Lennay Kekua" had seemed a dream come true for sports scribes. The young linebacker, a devout Mormon of Samoan descent, had an amazing season, driving his team forwards and earning himself a place as one of three finalists for the coveted Heisman Trophy, which is awarded to the best player in college football. He is also expected to be a top pick in the NFL draft, with the possibility of a gigantic pay check.

NOTE: More on this later when the truth comes out.

(3-11 Jan 20113) Early January 2013 Headlines

Downtown Macy's

Teroso Oil Refinery

Lex Brodie

(3 Jan 2013) HONOLULU - Macy's will close the downtown Honolulu location in the coming months. A retail store has been at the Fort Street Mall location more than 160 years but unless another retailer takes its place that will be the end.

(8 Jan 2013) KAPOLEI Campbell Industial Park - Tesoro Hawaii announced that the company will be converting its Oahu crude oil refinery to a terminal, effectively ceasing the Kapolei facility's refinery operations. The announcement comes after Tesoro Hawaii stated that no potential buyer had been found for the 94,000-barrel-per-day (the state's largest) refinery, which was put on the market early last year.

(11 Jan 2013) HONOLULU - 'Thank You, Very Much' - Lex Brodie, 98, Dies. Iconic tire dealer Lex Brodie, 98, passed away on Jan. 11. His multi-location dealership became part of the Hawaiian fabric due to its focus on customers and customer service, and a familiar logo. He started Lex Brodie’s Tire Co. in 1961 after managing a Dole pineapple cannery and owning a Chevron station, where the tire business began operations. The dealership moved to its current Queen Street headquarters location in Kaneohe in 1964.

(17 Dec 2012) Daniel Inouye, Veteran and Statesman, Passes Away at 88

Daniel K. Inouye

WASHINGTON D.C. - Daniel K. Inouye died today of a respiratory ailment at a Bethesda, Md., hospital, ending a life of remarkable service for his country and Hawaii that included sacrificing his right arm in World War II combat and spending 50 years as a U.S. senator. Inouye had been hospitalized at the George Washington University Hospital since December 6, when he fainted in his office at the U.S. Capitol. He was then transferred to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center three days later so that doctors could monitor his oxygen intake.

(3 Dec 2012) Thick vog smothers islands

Vog Covers the City of Honolulu

HONOLULU - The high clouds have finally moved off to the east, but the vog remains... and it is thick. It may be next week before we see trade winds strong enough to scrub our skies clear of the volcanic haze. The extended forecast does indicate east or northeast winds Thursday/Friday, however they will be so weak that land/sea breeze will likely overrule. Winds today will be light and variable. High in Honolulu will be 82

Hawthorne Cat, the leading large equipment dealer in the Pacific, is proud to announce the hire of Michael Petersen as sales representative at its Waipahu location.

Petersen has more than a decade of experience in Hawaii’s trucking and construction industries, most recently serving as a sales estimator for Pacific Asphalt and Maintenance. He previously worked as the general manager of Honolulu Express for eight years. In his new position as sales representative at Hawthorne Cat, Petersen will implement strategic planning, sales and marketing initiatives for Caterpillar equipment on Oahu.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from the University of Hawaii.

Hawthorne Cat is the leading large equipment dealer in the Pacific, with seven regional facilities on Oahu (Waipahu), Hawaii (Hilo and Kona), Maui, Kauai, Guam and Saipan. Hawthorne Cat is proud to continue a historic legacy of serving Hawaii, home of the first U.S. Caterpillar dealership opened in 1925. This division provides sales, rentals, parts and service of Caterpillar and allied brand machinery and power systems.

HONOLULU — Aofaga Wily rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns, Lasi Livai threw for 111 yards and two more TDs and Kawe Johnson intercepted two passes to help Kahuku blow past Punahou, 42-20, and repeat as Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Division I State Champion. An energized crowd of 17,820 at Aloha Stadium's Hawaiian Airlines Field watched the Red Raiders finish their perfect season at 12-0. The Buffanblu ended up 8-3.

HHSAA Division II FOOTBALL: ‘Iolani holds off Lahainaluna, 36-33, for sixth straight title. Reece Foy completed 22 of 36 passes for 299 yards and five touchdowns and JT Los Banos intercepted three passes — including one with 27 seconds remaining -- as 'Iolani held off Lahainaluna, 36-33, for its sixth straight Division II State Championship. The victory at Aloha Stadium's Hawaiian Airlines Field helped the Raiders finish the season at 9-3; Lahainaluna — making its first title game appearance — ended up 9-2.

(27 Oct 2012) Tsunami Warning for Hawaiian Islands

HONOLULU — A tsunami warning was issued state-wide at 7 p.m. Saturday following a 7.7 magnitude quake off of the west coast of Canada near British Columbia Saturday evening at 5:04 p.m. The quake struck on the Queen Charlotte Islands Region of British Columbia, 452 miles northwest of Vancouver and 164 miles south of Alaska. This caused an evaluation of all coastal areas in Hawaii. The first waves hit Hawaii at about 10:30 p.m. but they were smaller than expected and didn't cause any major damage. The largest waves were 3 feet high in Hilo. The tsunami warning that had been in effect for all Hawaiian Islands was downgraded at 1 a.m. Sunday so that residents could return to their homes.

(21 Oct 2012) Sister Marianne Cope becomes a Saint

Saint Marianne Cope, also known as the Saint Marianne of Molokai, (23 January 1838 - 9 August 1918) was a German-born American who was a member of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Syracuse, New York. Known for her charitable works and virtuous deeds, she spent many years caring for the lepers on the island of Molokai in Hawaii. Despite direct contact with the patients over many years, Cope was not afflicted by the disease, considered by some faithful to be miraculous. In 2005, she was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI. Cope was declared a saint by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012, along with the young 17th-century Native American woman, Kateri Tekawitha. She is only the 11th American citizen and the second from Hawaii to be so honored by the Catholic church.

(11 Sep 2012) Remembering Hurricane Iniki - 20 Years Later

HAWAII - Remembering Hurricane Iniki - 20 Years Later - Hurricane Iniki (Hawaiian meaning is "strong and piercing wind") was the most powerful hurricane ever to strike the U.S. state of Hawaii in recorded history.

(11 Aug 2012) Tulsi Gabbard Beats Mufi Hannemann

Tulsi Gabbard (born April 12, 1981) is the Democratic nominee for Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District. Gabbard crushed political veteran Mufi Hannemann in the August 2012 primary, receiving 54 percent of the vote while Hannemann received 34 percent. She joined the National Guard in 2003. A year later, she volunteered to serve in the war in Iraq and gave up her position in the state legislature. After being deployed to the Middle East for a second time in 2008, she returned to Hawaii to complete a degree in international business from Hawaii Pacific University. In 2010, she was elected to the Honolulu City Council.

(29 Jun 2012) RIMPAC 2012 Exercise

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM (June 29, 2012) - Twenty-two nations, 42 ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 3, in and around the Hawaiian Islands. The world's largest international international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd exercise in the series that began in 1971.

(21 Jun 2012) The Island of Lanai is Sold!!

Larry Ellison

Hawaii - Larry Ellison, the co-founder and chief executive officer of Oracle Corporation, is buying Lanai one of Hawaii's main eight islands. Ellison is the third wealthiest American citizen with an estimated worth of $36.5 billion. Castle & Cooke (David Murdock) is selling the Island for an estimated $600 Million. Some Lanai facts: Population is 3,193; Area is 140 Square Miles; Coastline is 47 Miles; Paved Roads is 30 Miles and There are no Stoplights. There are a couple of hotels and a couple of golf courses included in the deal.

(26 Mar 2012) DEADLY Accidents on Maui and Oahu

Death at a Bus Stop in Makaha

Makaha, Oahu - A 44-year-old man (Potasi Uta) is accused of killing a 3-year-old Makaha boy and injuring the mother and 5 other of her children while they waited at a bus stop. He was speeding and driving while drunk and leaving the scene of the accident.
Kula, Maui - Five people were killed Sunday morning after the Dodge Neon sedan they were riding in collided with an oncoming car and split in half along Kula Highway

(6 Mar 2012) Rain, Hail, Flooding, Thunder, and Lightning

Roads on Kauai turned into rivers

Hail in Waimanalo

Kauai and Oahu - After 8 days and nights of heavy rain, hail, flooding, thunder, and lightning, Hawaii residents were ready for some sunshine!! Yes, they did have hail in Waimanalo!!

(24 Feb 2012) Sears at Ala Moana is CLOSING

Sears at Ala Moana Shopping Center

Honolulu - Sears' landmark location at Ala Moana Center since it opened in 1959 has been sold and will close in 2013. The store's 319,000 square feet will be filled with new retailers in its place.

Honolulu - Honolulu Harbor was on a whale watch Thursday with the unexpected arrival of two humpback whales. Activity in the harbor was curtailed slightly while the whales were in port. Visitors at Aloha Tower got an unexpected treat seeing the whales close up. Later in the afternoon the whales followed the Atlantis Navatek Cruise Ship out of the channel as it left Honolulu Harbor.
Click on video above to watch the whales.

(21 Dec 2011) Norm Chow Named New Coach of Hawaii Warriors

Norm Chow

Honolulu - Norman Chow, 65 years old, has been hired to be the head coach for the University of Hawaii Warriors. He previously held the offensive coordinator position for the Utah Utes, UCLA, the NFL's Tennessee Titans, USC, North Carolina State, and Brigham Young University. He is known for developing quarterbacks such as Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Ty Detmer, Philip Rivers, Carson Palmer, and Matt Leinart. Chow, a native of Honolulu, and an alumnus of Punahou School, played college football for the University of Utah. Chow was a 2-year starter and a 3-year letterman offensive guard for the Utes.

MILILANI - Mililani High School's cheer squad has something to really cheer about following a major victory on the mainland. This heroes' welcome was fitting for the new national cheerleading champs. The Mililani High School Varsity and Junior Varsity teams both took first place at the American National Cheerleading competition in Las Vegas, Nevada. "We showed that even though we're from a small island, we can bring a bang and show that we are good," Mililani High School Cheerleader CJ Bouillon said. "It's something that can never be replaced, always remembered," Head Coach Renesha Kerstedt said. "I'm so proud of them."

Click on videos above to watch Cheer Squads

(15 Dec 2011) Hawaii Medical Center will Close 2 Hospitals

Hawaii Medical Center

Honolulu - The bankrupt Honolulu-based Hawaii Medical Center will close its two hospitals on Oahu. The hospitals are Hawaii Medical Center East in Liliha and Hawaii Medical Center West in Ewa. According to reports, about 990 people will lose their jobs as a result of the closures, which are expected to take place in January 2012. The decision came after Hawaii Medical Center failed to reach an agreement with a potential buyer, Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare Services.

(7 Dec 2011) Pearl Harbor observed the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack

USS Arizona Memorial

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - About 120 survivors of the Pearl Harbor bombing commemorated the Japanese attack and the thousands who lost their lives that day 70 years ago by observing a moment of silence on Wednesday. During the ceremony, a group of survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack announced that they would disband at the end of the month. William Muehleib, president of the Pearl Harbors Association, cited age and poor health of the remaining 2,700 members - most of which are around 90 years old. Survivors will be able to attend future commemoration ceremonies on their own. About 3,000 people, including Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and military leaders, attended this year's 70th anniversary event at a site overlooking the sunken USS Arizona and the white memorial that straddles the battleship.

(5 Dec 2011) UH Football Coach Greg McMackin is Forced Out

University of Hawaii head football coach Greg McMackin has resigned after being forced out under pressure. Coach McMackin says he is accepting a $600,000 buyout, he was due $1.1 million in the final year of his contract. Associated Head Coach Rich Miano has been named interim head coach for the UH Warrior football team.

They are expecting leaders from 21 of these countries (including President Obama) to be in town along with about 20,000 other people. The conference will be held at the Honolulu Convention Center and the hotels in Waikiki will be full.

Security will be very tight and traffic will be a nightmare. State and City officials have been sprucing up the city for the past several months - Especially the airport, the road to Waikiki, and the Waikiki area. They have planted palm trees all along Nimitz Highway and painted the buildings. The homeless have been rounded up and put out-of-sight. It should be a fun week!!

(16 Oct 2011) Coast Guard Searches for Missing Fisherman

Kon Wai's Boat

HONOLULU - The US Coast Guard has deployed its 110-foot cutter Kiska, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and two HC-130 Hercules airplanes in its search for a missing fisherman in waters south of Oahu. It also has the assistance of the Honolulu Fire Department. However, there's still no sign of Kon Wai Young, 53, or his small boat. Young is believed to have launched his boat at Maunalua Bay in Hawaii Kai. Coast Guard officials established a search area by using a computer program and a self-locating data marker buoy to calculate environmental factors, such as the speed and direction of currents. Crews are scouring the ocean stretching from Hawaii Kai to Barbers Point for a Wailupe Valley man, and his 19-foot white and green V-hull boat. The search for Kon Wai Young was launched Saturday night, after his long-time neighbor noticed that his truck and boat trailer were not at his house.

NOTE: Won Wai Young is a friend of mine and we have been bowling together at Fort Shafter for many years.

(18 Jul 2011) Fatal Accident Closes H2 Freeway

HONOLULU - A fatal accident on the H-2 freeway shut down all lanes coming from central Oahu early Monday morning. The accident was reported at about 4:30 a.m. and freeway was closed for 5 hours. Traffic for North Shore and Mililani motorists was a mess - Only Kam Highway was open and it took several hours to get into Honolulu.

(3 Jun 2011) Wet and Wild Friday

Lightning struck two Oahu houses, thunder triggered car alarms, thousands of homes and businesses lost electricity and more than 4 inches of rain fell in a 24-hour period in some areas. Yes, the National Weather Service said that over 13,000 lightning strikes hit the Hawaiian Islands on Friday. There was pea sized hail in Mililani and Eva Beach - and snow on the Mauna Loa on the Big Island. This is very unusual for Hawaii in June.

(3 Jun 2011) Shooting Spree Leaves One Dead

Taffic Jam after Toby Stangel Shooting Spree

A mother of 10 is killed and two others are injured from Kaimuki to Aiea. It lasted less than half an hour and stretched from Kaimuki to Aiea. When it was over, a woman was dead, two other people were seriously injured and the lives of four Oahu families were shattered after a roadway shooting spree that police said appeared to be random attacks by a gunman.

(8 Apr 2011) Waikele Fireworks Explosion Kills 5 People

Honolulu police and fire personnel returned to a command center outisde a bunker where five people died following a fire and explosions in a storage facility for confiscated fireworks.

(11 Mar 2011) Japan Earthquake Triggers Tsunami that Hits Hawaii

A massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake shook Japan, unleashing a powerful tsunami that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns. This was Japan's most powerful earthquake since records began.

HONOLULU, March 11 -- Coastal areas throughout the state were evacuated late Thursday before the tsunami waves hit the state just after 3AM. The waves did extensive damage in several harbors, flooded the lobby of the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel and the streets of Kailua Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii.

(4 Mar 2011) Big Storm Hits the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Electric Co. crews work to fix downed poles on Fort Weaver Road in Ewa Beach this morning. The makai-bound lanes of the road are closed because of about 15 downed poles and many trees after heavy rain and strong wind overnight. Electricity went out and is expected to stay out for days since Hawaiian Electric decided to go on srike today and walked off the job.

(23 Feb 2011) Hawaii now seventh state to legalize civil unions

Less than a year after seeing the push for civil unions vetoed, gay rights advocates cheered as Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed into law a bill legalizing civil unions and making Hawaii the seventh state to grant such privileges to same-sex couples. Abercrombie signed the legislation at a ceremony today at historic Washington Place. "E Komo Mai: It means all are welcome," Abercrombie said in remarks before signing the bill into law. "This signing today of this measure says to all of the world that they are welcome. That everyone is a brother or sister here in paradise." My comment - Isn't this just wonderful!!!!! A hippy Governor and state full of gays!

(20 Jan 2011) Big Waves Hit Hawaii

Even though waves at Waimea Bay were between 15-to-25 feet, it was "just not up to the 'Eddie' standards," and the big wave surfing contest wasn't held at Waimea Bay Beach. Hundreds of surfers and thousands of spectators streamed into Waimea Bay Beach Park before dawn in hopes that the Eddie Aikau big wave surf contest would be a go today.Large waves washed over Farrington Highway in Makaha causing the state to close the road for much of the day.

(18 Nov 2010) University of Hawaii Football Joins the MWC

UH has been a member of the WAC for 32 years but will move to the Mountain West Conference for the 2012-13 season. Only the football team will join the MWC - the other UH sports are expected to join the Big West Conference.

(5 Nov 2010) KAHUKU FORFEITS!!

KAHUKU FORFEITS!!
The top-ranked Kahuku High football team lost its appeal yesterday to school administrators for using an ineligible player and will have to forfeit the season, it was announced yesterday by the Oahu Interscholastic Association. As a result, Mililani wins the OIA Red Conference title. No. 2 Mililani rallied past Castle, 21-9 to get to the title game.

(3 Nov 2010) Surfer Andy Irons Dies

Dallas - Professional surfer Andy Irons passed away today at the age of 32. Irons was a three-time World Champion surfer, along with 19 world tour victories.

(2 Nov 2010) Neil Abercrombie is elected Governor of Hawaii

Neil Abercrombie, who evolved from a fiery Vietnam War protester to a respected Democrat in Congress, was elected governor of Hawaii last night on a message of change after eight years of Republican rule at Washington Place. Abercrombie easily defeated Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, the Republican, to become the seventh governor since statehood. He is expected to be sworn in to replace Gov. Linda Lingle on Dec. 6.

Colleen Hanabusa ended Republican Charles Djou's six-month U.S. House term with a victory that at one point seemed in doubt even in a Democratic stronghold such as Hawaii.

(29 Aug 2010) Hawaii Wins US Little League Championship

Williamsport PA - Hawaii celebrates after they knocked off Texas to win the U.S. Little League Championship.
With a combination of stellar defense, disciplined hitting, and aggressive baserunning, Japan brought down Hawaii in a 4-1 victory, clinching Japan's seventh Little League World Series Championship.

(6 Jun 2010) The Honolulu Advertiser ends a 154-year run

Honolulu – Today's final edition of The Honolulu Advertiser ends a 154-year run that helped document and define the course of Island life from the days of the Hawaiian kingdom to the arrival of jets and the digital age. Honolulu is now a one-newspaper town for the first time in its history. Honolulu Star-Bulletin owner David Black is paying about $125 million to acquire The Honolulu Advertiser. The Advertiser and the Star-Bulletin — which have competed head-on through two world wars, the Great Depression and the advent of statehood in Hawai'i — will become the Star-Advertiser and will operate out of the Star-Bulletin's offices at Restaurant Row and will use the Star Bulletin printing presses. The deal will result in the loss of more than 400 jobs, making it one of the largest mass layoffs in Hawai'i in recent years. The Star-Advertiser hired 265 employees from The Advertiser and kept 209 from the Star-Bulletin.

(31 May 2010) HPU Softball Rallies To Win National Championship

St. Joseph, MO (5/31/10) – HPU erased a two-run fifth inning deficit to win its first NCAA Division II Softball College World Series title. The Sea Warriors plated four runs in the fifth inning to hold on to beat Valdosta State, 4-3, in the title game. Sherise Musquiz (pictured above) was the winning pitcher.

(30 May 2010) UH Softball Team Stuns Top-seeded Alabama

Hawaii Wahine Software Team

Tuscaloosa, Ala - Jenna Rodriguez launched a shot heard around the nation as her two-out, two-run walkoff homer stunned top-seeded Alabama, 5-4, vaulting the Rainbow Wahine into their first-ever World Series appearance. The Rainbow Wahine, who set an NCAA record for home runs in a single season, went on to win the Western Athletic Conference and then the regional at Stanford in which they had to beat the host Cardinal and Texas Tech.
But UH traveled to Tuscaloosa last week as a decided underdog against Alabama, which had won 28 in a row, advanced to the past two World Series and featured ace pitcher Kelsi Dunne, who had a 16-game winning streak and a 29-4 record coming in. Dunne would beat UH, 8-0, Saturday, but lose 8-7 in relief in the second game, forcing yesterday's winner-take-all game. Rodriguez went 3-for-4, starting with a three-run shot in the first inning that gave Hawaii early control. That lead gave pitcher Kaia Parnaby, the left-handed freshman from Australia, a comfort zone that allowed her to control the Crimson Tide's bats through the first five innings. Last Sunday, Rainbow Wahine star center fielder Kelly Majam hit her nation-leading 29th homer of the season to propel UH to the regional championship on her 20th birthday, setting up the date with big, bad 'Bama.

(22 May 2010) Charles Djou Wins Election

Charles Djou

HONOLULU - Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou punctured the Democrats' hold on the state's congressional delegation last night, winning a special election for Congress and becoming the first Republican in two decades to represent the Islands in Washington, D.C.

(10 April 2010) The Merrie Monarch Festival

HILO - The Merrie Monarch Festival (April 4-10, 2010) honors the legacy left by King David Kalåkaua, who inspired the perpetuation of our traditions, native language and the arts. Hula is the language of the heart, therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian People. The week-long festival features an internationally acclaimed hula competition, crafts fairs, an art show, music concerts, seminars, hula shows, and a grand parade through Hilo town.

(29 March 2010) First Hawaiian Bank Car Show - 100 Year Old Model-T

HONOLULU - My friend Howard Andrus's 1910 Model-T Ford is one of the featured cars at the First Hawaiian Bank Car Show going on this weekend at the Honolulu Convention Center. It’s the oldest running car in the state. You should have seen them look when he started it up and drove it into position. Even the workers stopped to take pictures with their cell phones and watch. Howard would like to give a special thanks to his wife Alice who spent many hours polishing the brass.

(8 March 2010) UH Coach Bob Nash is FIRED

Coach Bob Nash Fired who spent 31 years at UH as a player, assistant and head coach, was fired today. Bob Nash was head coach of the Rainbows for three seasons, finishing with a 34-56 record for a .378 winning percentage. Prior to his stint as head coach, Nash was an assistant and a third-team All-American as a player at Hawaii. The 1972 University of Hawaii men's basketball team was the first to get an invitation to the NCAA tournament, marking the first time the nation was really forced to pay attention to the state, and raising the expectations of Hawaii fans. In 1972, after a 24-2 regular season, the team of Bob Nash, John Penebacker, Al Davis, Jerome Freeman and Dwight Holiday and coach Red Rocha played in its first NCAA tournament game.

(27 February 2010) Tsunami Hits Hawaii

A tsunami triggered by an earthquake in Chile swept ashore in Hawaii on Saturday, but the initial waves did not appear to cause significant damage.

(5 February 2010) Frank Fasi and Cec Heftel Die this Week

Fasi Fasi

Cec Heftel

Former Honolulu Mayor Frank F. Fasi, the combative populist visionary who guided the city for 22 years, died last night at his Makiki home of natural causes. He was 89. Fasi was bold, brash and mischievous. As Frank Sinatra would say, he did it his way. When he did not like how the political parties treated him, he made up his own. He ran as a Democrat, then as a Republican, then formed the Best Party. He is best know for the Shaka Sign City Bus System Satellite City Hall and Honolulu City Lights.

Cec Heftel, the media executive and former congressman known for his sharp intellect and tongue and major successes in local TV and radio, died Thursday in San Diego. Heftel, 85, had been in failing health for some time and died of natural causes, a family spokeswoman said. He picked, for example, news anchor Bob Sevey for his nightly news broadcast on KGMB. Sevey was quickly a household name, and became known as Hawai'i's own Walter Cronkite.

(24 December 2009) Obama and Family Spent the Holidays in Hawaii

Obama and Daugthers

Obama at Kailua Beach

Shaved Ice on North Shore

(17 December 2009) Hawaii Women's Volleyball Team Makes the Final Four

TAMPA BAY - Hawaii's NCAA tournament run -- and 28-match winning streak -- crashed into a big blue wall as No. 1 Penn State racked up its 101st consecutive victory. Senior hitter Megan Hodge, the most outstanding player of the two previous final fours, was held to a mortal 12 kills, but her team finished with an otherworldly 15-0 edge in blocks in wearing down the Rainbow Wahine 23-25, 25-18, 25-15, 25-18.

(8 December 2009) Monster Waves Hit The North Shore

WAIMEA BAY - Greg Long of San Clemente, Calif., proudly holds up his $55,000 check after winning the 25th Annual Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau surf contest held at Waimea Bay located on the North Shore of Oahu. The Waimea Bay contest is only held when waves are consistently large. The National Weather Service says the waves were in the 40-foot range with 50-foot sets on outer reefs today. The big waves drove several people to Red Cross shelters and drew thousands of onlookers to Oahu's North Shore, creating bumper-to-bumper traffic between Haleiwa and Waimea Bay, where many hoped to see a premier surfing event.

(15 November 2009) Wie Wins First LPGA Title

GUADALAJARA, Mexico » Michelle Wie won her first LPGA Tour title, fulfilling the promise of a decade with a 3-under 69 yesterday for a two-stroke victory over Paula Creamer in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.

The newsroom merger between the local CBS and NBC affiliates and K5 kicks off today with pledges of providing "more news," "more options" and "more voices," according to advertisements planned for Honolulu's daily newspapers. Anchors Keahi Tucker, Stacy Loe and Stephanie Lum will headline the 10 p.m news while Lum and Tannya Joaquin will anchor the 5 p.m. show. The shared services agreement means that all but four of KHNL's on-air people are being laid off, including anchors Howard Dashefsky and Diane Ako.

(22 October 2009) Furlough Protest

Public schools across the state are closed today as some 13,000 teachers take the first of 17 furlough days as part of a plan to save money that has garnered national attention and angered parents. Some 170,000 public school students have the day off. Parents, students and teachers rallied at the state Capitol Friday to protest teacher furloughs that caused the closing of all public schools in the state.

(17 October 2009) DAVE SHOJI WINS 1000

UH women's volleyball coach Dave Shoji holds up a sign proclaiming his winning game No. 1,000
Saturday against New Mexico State. This is the second most wins in college women's volleyball
history.

(11 October 2009) SAINTHOOD FOR FATHER DAMIEN

VATICAN CITY - Damien De Veuster, the Belgian priest who sacrificed his life ministering to the forsaken leprosy victims at Kalaupapa in the 19th Century, was added to the litany of Roman Catholic saints today in a solemn Mass led by Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Basilica.

The Mililani football team improved to 3-0 after beating last year's state champion Punahou. Taz Stevenson who plays evey down (running back, wide receiver, defensive back, and kick returns) maybe the best player in the state. Trojans' quarterback Trent McKinney also had a good game. Mililani's overall defense is the best they have had in a long time.

(21 August 2009) 50 YEARS OF STATEHOOD

On August 21, 1959, President Eisenhower officially proclaimed Hawaii as the fiftieth state.
He presented the new fifty-star flag with the new arrangement of fifty stars: nine alternate
staggered rows of six and five stars each. So Statehood Day began.

(10 August 2009) Tropical Storm Felicia

Honolulu - Tropical Storm Felicia has sustained winds of 40 mph, traveling west at about 10 mph. The storm is 210 miles east-northeast of Hilo and 375 miles east of Honolulu as of 5 p.m. Monday. Felicia could be downgraded to a tropical depression at 38 mph.

(24 July 2009) USS Hawaii will Based at Pearl Harbor

PEARL HARBOR — A state with a warrior tradition yesterday welcomed a 21st-century combatant to its shores: the Virginia-class submarine USS Hawai'i. The state's new namesake submarine, a $2.5 billion technological marvel, was greeted accordingly when it pulled up to Pier Sierra 9 just after 10 a.m. to a reception of about 90 crew family members and more than 100 other invited guests.

(18 June 2009) Hawaii Furloughs Will Close State Offices - Many Protests Followed

Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday rolled out the details of her furlough plans for state workers, announcing that many state departments would close on three Fridays a month starting in July while others would modify or adjust operations to minimize the disruption to the public. The governor said she will issue an executive order for three furlough days a month for two years, which will cut pay by about 13.8 percent and save the state $688 million during a recession. The furloughs apply to about 15,600 state workers in 16 state departments and the offices of the governor and lieutenant governor. Gov. Linda Lingle said her plan will avert laying off about 2,500 state workers

(14 June 2009) Michelle Wie has Hole in One and Eagle in LPGA Championship

Even though Michelle Wie never made a run at winning the LPGA Championship, she certainly gave her sizable galleries reason to cheer this week. Wie opened with a 2-under 70 on Thursday, hit a hole-in-one Saturday and started her final round Sunday with an eagle on the par-4, 358-yard hole. Never mind the three double bogeys and eight bogeys, all of which contributed to a 2-under 287 and a 23rd-place tie. As far as Wie was concerned, there was absolutely nothing to complain about.

(15 May 2009) Mililani Girls Win State Softball Championship

Shedding its three-year "bridesmaid" label, Mililani High School girls broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the bottom of
the fifth inning last night and went on to defeat Roosevelt, 6-2, for the Hawaii Softball State
Championship. A capacity crowd of 1,200 at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium watched the O'ahu Interscho-lastic
Association Trojans finish the regular and postseason with a 16-3 record, ending with
their fifth straight state title game appearance. They won in 2005 but lost the past three years.

(13 April 2009) Bob's Big Boy Burns Down

An early morning fire heavily damaged the popular Bob's Big Boy restaurant in the Mapunapuna area. The blaze on Pa'a Street was first reported at 2:49 a.m. by a police officer who happened to be driving by. Fire officials estimate the blaze caused $1.5 million in damage.

(12 February 2009) Kapolei Tornado

A small tornado touched down at the Kapolei Golf Course yesterday afternoon, injuring an employee who was trying to warn golfers. This photo of the twister was taken at about 1 p.m. from Makakilo. Since 1950, the year the National Weather Service began collecting tornado data, no one has ever died in a tornado in Hawaii. In that period, 37 tornados have caused $3.9 million in damage and injured five people.

(6 February 2009) USS Port Royal Grounded

PEARL HARBOR – The Navy freed USS Port Royal early this morning after the guided missile cruiser spent three days aground about a half-mile south of Honolulu International Airport Reef Runway. High tide and removing approximately 500 tons of seawater and about 100 tons of anchors, anchor chains and other equipment sufficiently lightened the ship for this morning's successful extraction.

(27 December 2008) Island-Wide Power Outage

More than two-thirds of Oahu had power restored as of noon today, 18 hours after a blackout left the entire island without electricity, forced the Honolulu airport to cancel flights, closed shopping malls and left motorists crawling through streets with no lights.

(5-7 December 2008) Hawaii Sports HeadlinesNo. 1 Punahou beats No. 2 Leilehua 38-7 to win State Football ChampionshipUH Wahine sweeps USC in second round of NCAA Volleyball TournamentMichelle Wie earns LPGA Tour cardNotre Dame will play UH in the Hawaii Bowl on the 24th of December

(4 November 2008) Hawaii Born Barack Obama Wins Election

Barack Obama made history last night, becoming the first African-American, and the first person born in Hawai'i, elected president of the United States. Hawai'i voters gave the Punahou School graduate his largest victory margin of any state in the nation.
In other election news, Mufi Hannemann was re-elected Mayor of Honolulu and voters said 'YES' to Rail Mass Transit.

Waipi'o scores six runs on five hits in the top of the sixth inning to turn a 5-1 deficit into a stunning 7-5 lead before shutting out Lake Charles in the bottom half to win the Little League (ages 11-12) World Series United States Championship. They go on the next day to win the World's Little League Championship with 12-3 win over Mexico.

(23 August 2008) Bryan Clay Wins World's Greatest Athlete Title

Bryan Clay wins Decathlon Gold Medal at the Beijing Olympics.

(19 May 2008) Punahou School Named SI's Top Sports Program

Junior Aisha Price's 14 goals in the state tournament helped Punahou win its third girls' water polo championship.

Maintaining a tradition of athletic excellence and classy performance with 16 state titles and 12 Division I recruits in 2007-08, the Hawaiian powerhouse Punahou is SI's top program.

Today, with a K-12 enrollment of 3,760, Punahou is the largest single independent school in the U.S. It is also the oldest in the country west of the Mississippi, and seemingly the most overachieving. Since 1958 the Buff 'n Blue have racked up 368 Hawaii championships -- a state-record 16 this school year alone, including eight in the past two weeks.

(30 Mar 2008) Aloha air goes OUT OF BUSINESS

A boisterous crowd of employees was on hand at Gate 54 at Honolulu Airport's interisland terminal to greet passengers as they deplaned Aloha Airlines' last flight, No. 261, from Kahului last night. Aloha Airlines planes bring passengers here for the last time, and workers say goodbye. 1900 employees lose their jobs.

(16 Jan 2008) Greg McMackin Picked as Next UH Football Coach

(7 Jan 2008) Coach June Jones leaves Hawaii for SMU

June Jones, hired to coach Southern Methodist, appears at a news conference Monday in Dallas. Jones had a 76-41 record in nine seasons at Hawaii and is a former NFL coach.

(5 Dec 2007) Strong winds and rains bring chaos to Hawaii

Heavy winds and rain downed Nanakuli utility poles early yesterday, including these along Auyong Homestead Road and Farrington Highway. One pole came crashing down on an Aloha gas station. Winds over 60 mph caused extensive damage on Oahu including 62 blown off roofs, over 100 trees blown down, and 47 electric poles blown down. Power outages were wide-spread with some area without electricity for over 16 hours. The heavy rain caused flooding and massive traffic problems. It was like a monstrous hurricane!

Hawaii’s Colt Brennan, right, raised his hands in victory after last night’s stunning win over Washington at Aloha Stadium. “This is something we dreamed about, and to be here, and see what we’ve accomplished, and the perfect record, is just mind-blowing,” Brennan said. A sold out crowd of 49,566 witnessed the greatest victory in school history.

And then there was one. UH only major college unbeaten team after Kansas loses.
The University of Hawai'i football team became the only undefeated team remaining in major college football when Kansas lost to Missouri, 36-28, today. The Warriors (11-0) won their first outright Western Athletic Conference championship yesterday with a 39-27 victory over Boise State at Aloha Stadium. UH hosts Washington (4-8) next Saturday for a chance at an undefeated regular season and a possible berth in a prestigious Bowl Championship Series game.

(13 Oct 2007) The Blue Angels

The Blue Angels put on show in the sky over Oahu.

(Sep 2007) The Superferry

Hundreds of protesters on surfboards, swimming in the harbor and lining the docks held the Hawaii Superferry at bay for nearly two hours yesterday at Nawiliwili Harbor on Kaua'i, setting the stage for a legal showdown in a Maui courtroom this morning. The U.S. Coast Guard used force to secure waters around the harbor where swimmers and surfers created a human blockade that had prevented the Superferry's 350-foot-long vessel, the Alakai, from entering the harbor.
All these environmentalists and their protests may cause the Superferry to leave the islands.

(13 Aug 2007) Hurricane Flossie

Hurricane Flossie was moving west-northwest at 15 mph today with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, gusting to 167 mph. It is expected to pass within 100 miles of South Point on the Big Island tomorrow afternoon.

(13 Aug 2007) North Shore Brush Fire

A brush fire that consumed more than 1,500 acres closed roads and forced the evacuation of at least two housing areas on the North Shore yesterday.

(14 Apr 2007) DON HO DIES

Don Ho, the biggest and best-known Hawaiian entertainer, died this morning of heart failure.

(13 Apr 2007) Bob Nash named UH basketball coach

Bob Nash has a long association with the University of Hawaii from his playing days in the early 1970s to his 26-year ascent from graduate assistant to assistant coach to associate coach and, finally, head coach.

(8 Apr 2007) North Shore Rock Slide Closes Kam Highway

ROAD CLOSED: About 40 yards of debris littered Kamehameha Highway just north of Waimea Bay after a rock slide early yesterday morning. Police closed the road to traffic as workers cleared the boulders, some weighing 30 tons or more.

On a Senior Night made all the more poignant by the impending departure of the team's most senior figure, Coach Riley Wallace, Matt Lojeski and Ahmet Gueye made the most of their final home game as the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team routed Boise State, 92-75, last night at the Stan Sheriff Center. Riley Wallace had a ball last night in his final home game as University of Hawai'i head coach. "It was a perfect night," said Wallace, who coached the Rainbows for 20 seasons.

(24 DEC 2006) UH Beats Arizona State 41-24 in the Hawaii Bowl

Colt Brennan passes for 559 yards and 5 touchdowns on his way to setting the single season touchdown record with 58 TDs. Colt completed 72.6% of his passes this year.Jason Rivers catches 14 balls on his way to setting a bowl record with 308 reception yards.

(20 NOV 2006) PRESIDENT BUSH VISITS HAWAII

Adm. William Fallon, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, and Gov. Linda Lingle were among the dignitaries who welcomed President Bush and first lady Laura Bush back to the United States yesterday.

(1 NOV 2006) MUD SLIDE CLOSES THE PALI HIGHWAY

The townbound lanes of the Pali Highway were covered with mud as work crews tried to divert a stream of water into a nearby drain.

(5 SEP 2006) Worst Traffic Jam in Hawaii HistoryIt took many motorists over 6 hours to get Home.

STUCK! Motorists were stuck for hours, the after-work rush extending into the late evening hours after a tractor-trailer carrying backhoe excavator accidentally struck and structurally damaged an Aiea pedestrian overpass.

(8 JUL 2006) Tantalus Lookout Murders

A makeshift memorial was seen yesterday as friends left flowers and lei at the Makini Street home of Kapahulu couple Jason and Colleen Takamori, who were killed Thursday night by a gunman at the Tantalus lookout. A taxi driver was also killed.

(13 JUN 2006) UH LAB FIRE

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII LAB Complex destroyed in fire.A raging fire that threw up smoke and flames visible for miles destroyed a 67-year-old wooden building.

(10 JUN 2006) Miss Hawaii - 2006

MISS HAWAII 2006: Pilialoha Gaison, waving, was emotional after being chosen as the new Miss Hawaii on Friday night at the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Coral Ballroom.

(10 JUN 2006) The Homeless Invade Wai'anae

WAI'ANAE — The number of homeless along one of O'ahu's most economically fragile stretches has grown dramatically, tripling since 2002 and sending the majority of those who have no place to live to the area's public beaches and parks.

(1 MAY 2006) State to open temporary homeless shelter

A former storage facility off Forrest Avenue just 'ewa of Kaka'ako Waterfront Park will be used as a temporary facility for about 200 homeless people who have spent the last several weeks at Kawaiha'o and Central Union churches, state officials announced this morning.
The site, estimated to be about 35,000 square feet, will be open from 5 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. daily to those needing shelter. Dinner and a morning snack is to be provided by churches and other service providers.

(24 APR 2006) Four killed, eight injured when truck hits cement truck

There were at least 10 people riding in the bed of the pickup truck in this Kunia Road crash.

(26 MAR 2006) SEWAGE SPILL HURTS WAIKIKI'S VISITOR INDUSTRY

50 million gallons of raw sewage spills into the Ala Wai Canal in Waikiki.

(2 MAR 2006) OAHU UNDER WATER

A lingering storm dumps more rain on the region, halting traffic in some areas and prompting emergency cleanups in others.

Torrential rains from Waiahole to Kahuku flooded roadways and homes, closed schools and caused at least two landslides yesterday.

The storm stranded many Windward Oahu residents for hours in their cars and spurred others to wage a battle against Mother Nature to clean out storm drains and save their property.

(12 FEB 2006) THE NFC WINS THE PRO BOWL

AFC tight end Tony Gonzalez comes down with a reception in front of NFC linebacker Keith Brooking.

Defense crashed the offensive party known as the Pro Bowl yesterday.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Derrick Brooks returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown, and the NFC's stout defense upstaged star quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Trent Green and Steve McNair in a 23-17 victory over the AFC.

(22 JAN 2006) CHINESE NEW YEAR PARADE

This was the first of many lion and dragon dancers wending their way along Hotel Street from near 'Iolani Palace into Chinatown yesterday for the 2006 Hawaii Chinatown New Year Celebration. Whether it’s a dragon or a lion dancing toward you, it’ll bring you good luck for the new year if you feed it a dollar or two. The Year of the Rooster ends and the Year of the Dog begins on 29 January 2006.

(15 JAN 2006) DAVID TOMS WINS THE SONY OPEN

David Toms left Waialae Country Club in shreds and everyone but Chad Campbell in his rear-view mirror at the Sony Open in Hawai'i. His scores were 66-69-61-65=261. Chad Campbell and Rory Sabbatini tied for second 5 strokes behind.

(31 DEC 2005) GREAT WHITE SHARK ENCOUNTERED OFF HALE'WA (NORTH SHORE)

Jimmy Hall of Hawai'i Shark Encounters couldn't pass up a chance to swim with a great white shark, which at first he thought was a small humpback whale. A shark expert estimated the great white, whose dorsal fin is shown breaking the surface, was at least 17 feet long.
Jimmy Hall of Hawai'i Shark Encounters said the great white shark he and his tour group encountered off Hale'iwa was very calm, and he described the experience as incredible. He said he was able to get close enough to touch the great white many times.
The great white shark rubbed against the boat and the cage several times during its 45 minutes there.

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas in Hawai'i, better head to the Big Island, where Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea got their first dusting of snow for the holiday season. About 3 inches of snow fell Wednesday, down to the 12,000-foot level.

(3 DEC 2005) HONOLULU CITY LIGHTS

The city kicked off the 21st annual celebration of the Honolulu City Lights last night. The lighting of the Christmas tree at Honolulu Hale and an Electric Light Parade down King Street were part of the festivities. The Honolulu City Lights display runs through Jan. 1.

(1 DEC 2005) EXPLOSIVE SHOW AT KILAUEA

A 6-foot-thick stream of lava from Kilauea pours out of the side of a cliff at Lae'apuki after a 34-acre lava bench sheared off and fell into the ocean. It was the largest such collapse in the 22-year history of the volcano's current eruption.

(26 NOV 2005) Rainbow Wahine Win 8th Consecutive WAC Championship

RENO, Nev. (AP) - The University of Hawaii women's volleyball team seized the Western Athletic Conference championship today after its 30-25, 30-27, 30-25 win over Utah State in Reno, Nevada.

Jamie Houston had a match-high 17 kills and Victoria Price added eleven to lead the Rainbow Wahine.

Hawaii improves to a record of 25-and-six. The win puts the team in the WAC's automatic berth at the NCAA tournament.

(19 NOV 2005) UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII BEATS MICHIGAN STATE

The season opener for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team turned into a national eye-opener.
The Rainbow Warriors scored one of the biggest upsets in the program's history in an 84-62 victory over No. 4 Michigan State yesterday.

(19 OCT 2005) HAWAII RUNS OUT OF GAS!!

O'ahu service stations ran out of gasoline yesterday after their tanks were drained by drivers clamoring for fuel at $3 or less a gallon. Price went down about 50 cents a gallon on Monday. Many drivers who were running on fumes waiting for the price drop run out of gas and had to call a tow truck.NOTE: I went to my service station at 4:30 AM and the gas pump quit after pumping 18 cents. Since I had less than a quarter tank, I was a little worried but finally found a station in Aiea that had some high-test gas. This GAS CAP must go!!

(8 OCT 2005) WAHIAWA — TROJANS EDGE MULES IN A MESS OF MUD, 7-0

It might be difficult to see, but that's Mililani's Kekoa Perbera being tackled by Leilehua's Niko Tauanuu in a mud-slicked field at Leilehua. Mililani won, 7-0, last night after Thomas Craig recovered a fumbled punt snap in the end zone with 15 seconds remaining before halftime. The Trojans, 6-1 overall and ranked No. 5 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 5-0 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association and clinched the Red Conference Western Division's No. 1 seed for the upcoming league playoffs.